gas
gas — abbreviation
1. a medical operation that changes a person's physical features to match their gen
a medical operation that changes a person's physical features to match their gender identity — short for Gender-Affirming Surgery
Obi is saving money to have GAS, also known as gender-affirming surgery, next year.
abbreviation GAS stands for Gender-Affirming Surgery
The hospital’s new clinic offers GAS as part of its transgender healthcare programme.
After years of waiting, Quinn finally received approval for GAS at the city hospital.
Support groups help people prepare emotionally for what GAS involves.
- gender confirmation surgery
another term for the same procedure, emphasising confirmation rather than affirmation
- sex reassignment surgery
older, broader term; less preferred by many in the transgender community
用法筆記
GAS is used as an abbreviation in medical and healthcare contexts. The full form 'gender-affirming surgery' is more common in general writing.
gas — noun
1. a substance that fills any container it is put in, has no fixed shape or size of
a substance that fills any container it is put in, has no fixed shape or size of its own, and can spread freely through the air — for example, oxygen, hydrogen, or carbon dioxide
When water reaches one hundred degrees Celsius, it turns into a gas called steam.
collocation: turns into a gas
Helium is much lighter than air, so balloons filled with it float upward.
The old factory released a poisonous gas, and the nearby town had to be evacuated.
Rohan’s science project shows that carbon dioxide is a gas plants need to grow.
用法筆記
This is the core scientific sense. Water in solid, liquid, and gas form is a common classroom example to explain states of matter.
常見錯誤
2. a fuel in the form of a gas that is burned to produce heat, used for cooking foo
a fuel in the form of a gas that is burned to produce heat, used for cooking food and heating buildings
Mizuki turned on the gas and lit the stove to boil water for tea.
collocation: turn on the gas
Many homes in this area use gas for heating during the cold winter months.
A strong smell of gas filled the kitchen, so Quinn opened all the windows immediately.
The plumber fixed a small leak in the gas pipe before it became dangerous.
- natural gas
the specific type of fossil fuel gas found underground, used for heating and cooking
用法筆記
In Taiwan, natural gas delivered through pipes is called 天然氣 or 焖氣; bottled gas for cooking is called 液化石油氣 (LPG). The word 'gas' alone in this sense is understood but the more specific Chinese term is used in daily life.
常見錯誤
3. a type of gas that is breathed in by a patient prior to surgery, putting them to
a type of gas that is breathed in by a patient prior to surgery, putting them to sleep or stopping them from feeling any pain
Before the operation, the nurse gave Sirin gas through a mask to help her sleep.
passive: give someone gas through a mask
The dentist used gas to calm Cyrus’s nerves before pulling out his tooth.
Modern anesthetic gas is much safer than the gas used in hospitals a century ago.
A patient might wake up and feel severe pain without enough gas during surgery.
- anaesthetic
the general term for any substance that causes loss of sensation or consciousness
- laughing gas
informal name for nitrous oxide, used especially in dentistry
用法筆記
In everyday English, 'gas' for medical anaesthesia often refers specifically to nitrous oxide (laughing gas) used by dentists. For major surgery, the word 'anaesthetic' is more common.
4. air or gas that builds up inside the stomach or intestines, sometimes causing pa
air or gas that builds up inside the stomach or intestines, sometimes causing pain, swelling, or the need to pass wind
After eating a bowl of beans, Quinn felt uncomfortable because of gas in his stomach.
collocation: gas in [body part]
The baby cried until her mother gently patted her back to help release the gas.
Some people get gas when they eat too fast or drink fizzy drinks.
The doctor told Sade to avoid foods that cause gas, such as cabbage and onions.
- wind
more common in British English for the same condition; 'I have wind' means the same as 'I have gas'
- flatulence
the formal medical term; rarely used in everyday conversation
用法筆記
In polite conversation, people often use phrases like 'have gas', 'pass gas', or 'feel gassy' rather than more direct words.
5. a liquid made from petroleum that is used as fuel for cars, trucks, and other ve
a liquid made from petroleum that is used as fuel for cars, trucks, and other vehicles with an engine
Christopher stopped at the station to put gas in his truck before the long drive.
collocation: put gas in [vehicle]
The price of gas went up by fifty cents a litre this week.
Sade’s car runs on gas, so she stops at a station every few days.
A delivery truck uses more gas when it carries heavy loads up the mountain.
用法筆記
This sense is standard in American English. In British English, the word 'petrol' is used instead. In Taiwan, people generally use 汽油 (qìhyóu) or 'petrol', but American English 'gas' is widely understood through media.
常見錯誤
6. the control inside a car operated by pushing down with your foot, which causes t
the control inside a car operated by pushing down with your foot, which causes the engine to turn faster and the car to speed up
Gabriel pressed the gas gently as the traffic light turned from red to green.
collocation: press the gas
When Sade took her foot off the gas, the car slowed down smoothly.
The instructor told Élise to keep her foot steady on the gas going uphill.
Jason pushed the gas to the floor to pass the slow truck on the highway.
- accelerator
the standard term in British English and formal driving instruction
- throttle
the engine part that controls fuel flow; used more for motorcycles and aircraft
- brake
the pedal that slows or stops the vehicle
用法筆記
The British English equivalent is 'accelerator' rather than 'gas' or 'gas pedal'. In everyday American speech, people also say 'step on it' or 'hit the gas' to mean speed up.
常見錯誤
7. something or someone that is very funny, enjoyable, or entertaining to be around
something or someone that is very funny, enjoyable, or entertaining to be around
The comedy show last night was a real gas — the whole audience laughed non-stop.
informal slang: a real gas
The roller coaster ride with her cousins was a real gas; Mizuki wants to go again.
Grandpa told silly jokes all evening, and the children said he was a gas.
The school trip to the science museum was a real gas for everyone in the class.
用法筆記
This is an older slang expression from the 1950s-1960s. It is still understood but can sound dated or nostalgic. More common modern alternatives are 'a blast', 'a riot', or simply 'a lot of fun'.
常見錯誤
8. a very fast pitch thrown by a baseball pitcher, making it hard for the batter to
a very fast pitch thrown by a baseball pitcher, making it hard for the batter to hit
The pitcher threw serious gas, striking out three batters in a row.
baseball slang: throw gas
Fans cheered when the rookie pitcher fired gas at ninety-five miles per hour.
At the baseball game, Esteban could not hit the pitcher’s gas no matter how he tried.
The crowd went wild when the pitcher started throwing gas in the final inning.
用法筆記
This sense is used only in baseball contexts. It is not understood outside of sports discussions. The words 'heat' and 'smoke' are used similarly in baseball slang for fast pitches.
gas — verb
1. to cause a person or animal to die, become very sick, or lose consciousness thro
to cause a person or animal to die, become very sick, or lose consciousness through the inhalation of poison gas
Thousands of soldiers were gassed in the trenches and many lost their lives.
passive: were gassed
The firefighters saved the family before smoke from the fire could gas them.
Workers at the chemical plant were accidentally gassed by a leak in the storage.
The cruel regime used poison gas to gas innocent people during the conflict.
- asphyxiate
formal term meaning to cause death by preventing oxygen from reaching the body
- suffocate
to die from lack of air, not necessarily from a specific poisonous gas
用法筆記
This verb is most commonly found in the passive voice ('were gassed', 'get gassed') when describing historical events or accidents. It carries strong negative associations with war and chemical weapons.
常見錯誤
2. to spend time talking with others at length, usually about subjects that are tri
to spend time talking with others at length, usually about subjects that are trivial or only for amusement, instead of getting down to work
The two friends sat on the porch and gassed for hours about their school days.
informal: gas + preposition 'about'
Sirin and Sade stood by the water cooler, gassing about weekend plans.
Stop gassing and get back to your desk — the deadline is tomorrow morning.
Mizuki gassed on the phone with her cousin until the battery on her phone died.
用法筆記
This is an informal, somewhat old-fashioned verb. It can carry a mildly negative tone when someone is gassing instead of doing work. More neutral synonyms are 'chat', 'chatter', or 'gossip'.