# gaseous

/ˈɡæsiəs/ (US) · /ɡˈeɪsiəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gaseous
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. existing as a gas

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

being in the form of a gas, like air or steam, instead of being solid or liquid.

For teachers: existing in or relating to the state of matter characterized by low density and high compressibility.

- Jupiter is a giant planet made mostly of gaseous hydrogen and helium.
- The experiment required the scientists to monitor the gaseous emissions from the chemical reaction to ensure no toxic fumes escaped the lab.

Usage: Often used in scientific contexts to describe the physical state of a substance.

### 2. lacking substance

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

describes an idea or a piece of writing that has no real meaning or strength.

For teachers: lacking substance, solidity, or depth; tenuous or empty in nature.

- The politician gave a gaseous speech that sounded good but said very little.
- Critics dismissed the novel as a gaseous collection of metaphors that failed to ground its characters in any recognizable reality.

Teaching tip: This figurative sense is much less common than the scientific one and is usually found in formal or literary critiques.

## Examples

- The water turned into a gaseous state when it boiled.
- The chemical reaction produced a gaseous byproduct that needed to be vented safely into the atmosphere.
- The planet's atmosphere is primarily composed of gaseous nitrogen and oxygen, with trace amounts of other volatile compounds that contribute to its unique weather patterns.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.