gasses

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of gas. A less common spelling of gases.

   Volcanic eruptions vent enormous quantities of gasses into the atmosphere.

   The technician analyzed the gasses trapped inside the sealed container.

   Note

   A plural that only some meanings of gas allow. Gas as a state of matter, as fuel, as poison gas or as flatus is uncountable. So gasses names distinct chemical elements or compounds, such as the volcanic gasses of an eruption, or, more rarely, the hobs of a gas cooker. The spelling gases is the more common variant. The doubled form follows the pattern of buses and busses.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of gas.

   The crew gasses the greenhouse overnight to control the insect population.

   My neighbor gasses on about his fishing trips whenever we meet.

   Note

   The verb shares its spelling with the noun plural, and it uses it for every meaning. The literal meanings take an object: someone gasses a room, a greenhouse or an enemy. The slang meaning of boastful or empty talk usually stands without one and often takes on, as in he gasses on about his trips. That slang use belongs to casual speech, so keep it out of formal writing.

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