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gaseous
/ˈɡeɪ.ʃəs/
in gas form
Water becomes gaseous when it boils.
Water turns into a gas state when heated to its boiling point.
technical
existing as or resembling gas; in a state resembling gas
The substance is gaseous at room temperature.
The substance exists as a gas under normal room conditions.
Gaseous emissions from factories contribute to air pollution.
Factories release gases into the atmosphere, which pollute the air.
Commonly used in chemistry and physics to describe the state of matter. Opposite of 'solid' or 'liquid'.
literary
lacking substance or solidity; vague or insubstantial
His promises remained gaseous, never taking concrete form.
His commitments were empty, never materializing into anything real.
Used metaphorically to describe ideas or promises that are not well-defined or lack substance.
Collocations
gaseous statethe condition of being in a gas formgaseous emissionsgases released into the environmentgaseous forma state where matter exists as a gas
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'gaseous' vs. 'gas'
Use 'gaseous' as an adjective (e.g., 'gaseous state') and 'gas' as a noun (e.g., 'natural gas'). 'Gaseous' describes the state, while 'gas' is the substance itself.
Gold Rule
State vs. Substance
Remember: 'gaseous' describes a state of matter (like 'solid' or 'liquid'), not the substance itself. Say 'gaseous hydrogen' (state + substance) rather than just 'gaseous' alone.
Word Origin
From Latin *gaseus*, derived from Greek *χάος* (chaos), meaning 'empty space' or 'void', via French *gaz* (coined by chemist J.B. van Helmont in the 17th century). The term was later associated with the state of matter.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in scientific contexts to describe the gaseous state of matter. The metaphorical use (lacking substance) is less common but appears in literary or critical writing.
Word Breakdown
gas
a state of matter with no fixed shape or volume
root-eous
suffix meaning 'like' or 'resembling'
suffixEnglish Dictionary