degas
Low (primarily technical)Technical/Scientific/Industrial
Definition
Meaning
To remove gas (usually air) from a substance or enclosed space.
In technical and industrial contexts, the process of eliminating dissolved gases from liquids (like water or oil), or removing air from a sealed environment. As a proper noun, it refers to the French impressionist painter Edgar Degas.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly used as a transitive verb in technical writing. It implies a deliberate, often methodical, process of gas removal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Purely technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both UK and US English, confined to relevant fields.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + degas + [Object] (transitive)It is necessary/important to degas [Object].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear in manufacturing or engineering project reports.
Academic
Common in chemistry, materials science, engineering, and geology papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Unlikely to be used outside specific hobbies (e.g., resin casting, home brewing).
Technical
The primary domain. Used in manuals, procedures, and research for processes involving vacuum systems, molten metal treatment, fluid dynamics, and sample preparation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Before welding, you must thoroughly degas the aluminium alloy.
- The protocol requires you to degas the solvent under reduced pressure for an hour.
American English
- The mechanic will degas the HVAC system before recharging it.
- We need to degas the epoxy resin to avoid bubbles in the cast.
adjective
British English
- The degas unit is located next to the main reactor. (noun used attributively)
American English
- Follow the degas procedure outlined in section 4. (noun used attributively)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This word is not typically used at A2 level.
- Scientists sometimes need to degas water for their experiments.
- To prevent porosity in the final product, the foundry uses a rotary degasser to degas the molten iron.
- The ultra-high-vacuum chamber must be meticulously degassed and baked out for weeks to achieve the necessary pressure for the particle detector.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'DE-GAS' as taking the GAS 'DE' (off/out) of something, like de-icing takes ice off.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLEANING/PURIFYING: Removing an invisible contaminant (gas) to achieve a pure or stable state.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the artist 'Degas' (Дeга).
- The verb is not related to 'газ' (gas) in a colloquial 'accelerator' sense.
- Avoid translating as 'разгазировать' unless in a highly technical context; 'удалять газы' is clearer.
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'The liquid degassed' is acceptable, but 'We need to degas' is incomplete).
- Confusing it with 'degrade'.
- Misspelling as 'de-gass' or 'degass'.
- Using it in general contexts where 'vent' or 'air out' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'degas' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only homophonically. The verb 'degas' is a technical term. The painter Edgar Degas is a proper noun, and the verb is not derived from his name.
No, that would be 'air out' or 'ventilate'. 'Degas' implies a more controlled, complete removal of gases, often from a liquid or sealed system.
'Degas' is usually an active process done to a material. 'Outgas' often describes the passive release of gas from a material, especially in a vacuum (e.g., 'The new seal will outgas for a while'). They are sometimes used interchangeably.
The standard past tense and participle is 'degassed'. The present participle is 'degassing'.