gassing
gassing — verb
1. the present participle of 'gas', describing the act of killing or harming a pers
the present participle of 'gas', describing the act of killing or harming a person, animal or pest by exposing them to poisonous gas.
The trenches were gassed with chemical weapons during World War One, killing thousands of soldiers.
passive: were + gassed, historical warfare context
The pest control team spent the morning gassing the rat burrows under the warehouse floor.
gassing + [target location] for extermination
Haruto read a book about the history of gassing in World War One and found it deeply upsetting.
gerund form: gassing as a subject/noun
Mira could not believe that gas chambers were still used for gassing stray dogs in some countries.
passive gerund: gassing + [target] for animal euthanasia
- be gassed
- the gassing of
Grammar Patterns
be + gassed by [agent]
gas + [person/animal]
Usage Note
Passive constructions (the trenches were gassed) and nominal forms (the gassing of…) are more natural in this sense than active progressive forms. The agent is often omitted or expressed with a by-phrase.
2. the present participle of 'gas up', an American English phrasal verb meaning to
the present participle of 'gas up', an American English phrasal verb meaning to fill a vehicle's fuel tank with gasoline.
Tanvi is gassing up her car at the station before the long drive to Taichung.
American English: gassing up [vehicle] for refuelling
Rafael pulled into the Shell station and spent five minutes gassing up his truck.
gassing up + [vehicle] with specific location
Élise forgot to bring her wallet when she was gassing up the rental car in Arizona.
continuous aspect: was gassing up
Tuan stopped gassing up halfway because the pump display showed a warning light.
stop + gassing up (phrasal verb pattern)
- gassing up
- stop gassing
Grammar Patterns
gas up [vehicle]
gassing up [vehicle]
Usage Note
This sense is primarily American English. In British English, the equivalent is 'filling up with petrol'. The short form 'gassing up' is informal but widely understood in the US.