rotten egg gas
- noun
- /ˈrɑːtən ɛɡ ɡæs/
- Specialized
:
gas de huevo podrido
- The plumber warned that rotten egg gas could leak from faulty pipes.
Examples
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A strong smell of rotten egg gas indicated the presence of decomposing organic material.
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When the scientist opened the container, a wave of rotten egg gas was released.
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The smell of rotten egg gas filled the room.
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You should avoid rotten egg gas at all costs!
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The plumber warned that rotten egg gas could leak from faulty pipes.
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When the scientist opened the container, a wave of rotten egg gas was released.
-
A strong smell of rotten egg gas indicated the presence of decomposing organic material.
Synonyms
12
5.7
A harmful gas used as a weapon that can kill or make people very sick if they breathe it
4
5.1
A poisonous colorless gas with a strong rotten egg smell
A bad-smelling air from drains and underground pipes that can be dangerous
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a gas with a foul odor like decomposing eggs' is transparently built from 'rotten' (decomposed, foul-smelling) + 'egg' (the food) + 'gas' (a gaseous substance); together they clearly denote a gas that smells like rotten eggs. This straightforward compositional pattern and the familiar odor metaphor occur across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can reliably infer the meaning.
Etymology
Rotten egg gas is named for its strong smell like rotten eggs when things rot. Because of that smell, people used the name to show the gas comes from 'rot' and can be 'harmful'.