Meaning & use
gasometer
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A large tank or container used for storing gas, especially town gas.
Grammar: Countable; plural is gasometers. Often used in historical or industrial contexts.
Patterns
- a gasometer stood
- the gasometer was dismantled
The old gasometer dominated the skyline of the industrial town.
Many gasometers have been converted into apartments or parks.
The gasometer stored gas to regulate supply during peak hours.
Word forms
| plural | gasometers |
|---|
Common combinations
- gasometer frame
- The gasometer frame was a landmark in the area.
- gasometer tank
- The gasometer tank held thousands of cubic meters of gas.
- dismantle a gasometer
- The city decided to dismantle the old gasometer.
- gasometer conversion
- The gasometer conversion project turned the structure into housing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gas holder
- Gas holder is the more common term in modern British English; gasometer is older and often refers to the same structure.
- gas tank
- Gas tank usually refers to a container on a vehicle or a smaller storage tank, not the large industrial structure.
Commonly confused: gasometer or gasolier?
gasometer vs gasolier
A gasolier is a hanging light fixture that burns gas, not a storage tank.
Practice
What is a gasometer used for?
Choose one answer.
A gasometer is a large tank for storing gas. A device for measuring gas is a gas meter; a gasolier is a light fixture; a gas water heater heats water.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gasometer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.