Meaning & use
greenhouse gas
Last updated
UK/ˈɡriːnhaʊs ɡæs/
US/ˈɡriːnhaʊs ɡæs/
Meaning
nouncountable
A gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide or methane.
Grammar: Countable; plural is greenhouse gases.
Patterns
- greenhouse gas emissions
- reduce greenhouse gases
- a greenhouse gas
Carbon dioxide is the most common greenhouse gas.
The factory was ordered to cut its greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists measure how much greenhouse gas each country releases.
Word forms
| plural | greenhouse gases |
|---|
Common combinations
- greenhouse gas emissions
- The new law aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
- reduce greenhouse gases
- Planting trees can help reduce greenhouse gases in the air.
- greenhouse gas concentrations
- Greenhouse gas concentrations have risen sharply since the industrial revolution.
- a potent greenhouse gas
- Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, much stronger than carbon dioxide.
Word family
- greenhouse effect noun
- The warming of the Earth caused by gases trapping heat.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'greenhouse gas' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Greenhouse gas' refers to gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat, so 'reduce greenhouse gas emissions' is correct. The other options confuse it with a physical greenhouse or a plant.
Make it your own
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