greenhouse gas

noun

: any of various gaseous compounds (such as carbon dioxide or methane) that absorb infrared radiation, trap heat in the atmosphere, and contribute to the greenhouse effect

Water vapor is an important gas for the study of climate and weather because of its role as a natural greenhouse gas as well as its relationship to clouds and precipitation.

—Mohi Kumar

Scientists now recognize tropospheric ozone—a component of smog—as a greenhouse gas as well as an eye and lung irritant.

—Science News

While it may not be possible to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions, it is possible to offset some of the emissions that do still occur. Offsetting involves supporting projects that reduce or sequester greenhouse gas emissions in another location.

—Tyson Miller

Livestock emit 14.5 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions each year. Most of that is from cows.

—Marley Walker

Examples of greenhouse gas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The resolution was a plain-vanilla environmental proposal urging the company to work harder to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its products and to be more transparent about the impact of its business on the climate. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024

La Niña should cool things a bit, but greenhouse gas emissions that drive global warming are still rising in the background. —Pedro Dinezio, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2024

The study found these changes had fairly consistent effects on the spread of infectious diseases regardless of geographic location or species, underlining the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve biodiversity, scientists say. —Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 15 May 2024

Dahl said the Canadian wildfires are the result of climate change and signals the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, which trap heat and cause global warming. —Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 15 May 2024

The rise of electric vehicles Since 2005, the federal government has required transportation fuels to be blended with increasing amounts of renewable fuels such as corn ethanol to reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on foreign oil. —Karina Atkins, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2024

Escalating costs also have doomed several renewable energy projects designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions. —Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 15 May 2024

The city saved nearly $189,000 in energy costs in 2023 and decreased the city operations’ overall greenhouse gas emissions by 9.4% in 2023 compared to 2022. —Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 13 May 2024

Minimizing this additional load would conserve energy, reduce upstream greenhouse gas emissions, and lower the cost of upgrading the electrical grid. —Peter Douglas, The Mercury News, 12 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

greenhouse gas

noun

: any of various gases (as carbon dioxide or methane) that absorb infrared radiation, trap heat in the atmosphere, and contribute to the greenhouse effect