Why are the outer planets like Jupiter called “gas giants,” when it’s gravity has likely over time pulled in millions of tons of asteroidal debris creating a stable form below the gas?

Question

Why are the outer planets like Jupiter called “gas giants,” when it’s gravity has likely over time pulled in millions of tons of asteroidal debris creating a stable form below the gas?

In: 1

Answer 1

The gas giants are basically failed stars in that they failed to gather enough gas into them to create a star and so remained planets which were mainly made out of gas.