steam

[steem] /stim/
noun
1.
water in the form of an invisible gas or vapor.
2.
water changed to this form by boiling, extensively used for the generation of mechanical power, for heating purposes, etc.
3.
the mist formed when the gas or vapor from boiling water condenses in the air.
4.
an exhalation of a vapor or mist.
5.
Informal. power or energy.
verb (used without object)
6.
to emit or give off steam or vapor.
7.
to rise or pass off in the form of steam or vapor.
8.
to become covered with condensed steam, as a window or other surface (often followed by up).
9.
to generate or produce steam, as in a boiler.
10.
to move or travel by the agency of steam.
11.
to move rapidly or evenly:
He steamed out of the room.
12.
Informal. to be angry or show anger:
Fans are still steaming from Monday night’s sloppy 5-4 loss.
verb (used with object)
13.
to expose to or treat with steam, as in order to heat, cook, soften, renovate, or the like.
14.
to emit or exhale (steam or vapor).
15.
Informal. to cause to become irked or angry (often followed by up).
16.
to convey by the agency of steam:
to steam the ship safely into port.
adjective
17.
heated by or heating with steam:
a steam radiator.
18.
propelled by or propelling with a steam engine.
19.
operated by steam.
20.
conducting steam:
a steam line.
21.
bathed with or affected by steam.
22.
of or pertaining to steam.
Idioms
23.
blow / let off steam, Informal. to give vent to one's repressed emotions, especially by talking or behaving in an unrestrained manner:
Don't take her remarks too seriously—she was just blowing off steam.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English steme, Old English stēam; cognate with Dutch stoom
Related forms
steamless, adjective
outsteam, verb (used with object)
presteam, adjective, verb (used with object)
unsteamed, adjective
unsteaming, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for blow off steam

steam

/stiːm/
noun
1.
the gas or vapour into which water is changed when boiled
2.
the mist formed when such gas or vapour condenses in the atmosphere
3.
any vaporous exhalation
4.
(informal) power, energy, or speed
5.
get up steam
  1. (of a ship, etc) to work up a sufficient head of steam in a boiler to drive an engine
  2. (informal) to go quickly
6.
(informal) let off steam, to release pent-up energy or emotions
7.
under one's own steam, without the assistance of others
8.
(Austral, slang) cheap wine
9.
(modifier) driven, operated, heated, powered, etc, by steam: a steam radiator
10.
(modifier) treated by steam: steam ironed, steam cleaning
11.
(modifier) (jocular) old-fashioned; outmoded: steam radio
verb
12.
to emit or be emitted as steam
13.
(intransitive) to generate steam, as a boiler, etc
14.
(intransitive) to move or travel by steam power, as a ship, etc
15.
(intransitive) (informal) to proceed quickly and sometimes forcefully
16.
to cook or be cooked in steam
17.
(transitive) to treat with steam or apply steam to, as in cleaning, pressing clothes, etc
See also steam up
Word Origin
Old English; related to Dutch stoom steam, perhaps to Old High German stioban to raise dust, Gothic stubjus dust
Word Origin and History for blow off steam

steam

n.

Old English steam "vapor, fume," from Proto-Germanic *staumaz (cf. Dutch stoom), of unknown origin. Steam age first attested 1941. Steam heat as a method of temperature control recorded from 1904.

v.

Old English stemen, stymen "to emit a scent or odor," from the root of steam (n.). Slang meaning "to make angry" is from 1922. Related: Steamed; steaming.

blow off steam in Science
steam
  (stēm)   

  1. Water in its gaseous state, especially at a temperature above the boiling point of water (above 100°C, or 212°F, at sea level). See Note at vapor.

  2. A mist of condensed water vapor.


Slang definitions & phrases for blow off steam

blow off steam

Related Terms

let off steam


let off steam

verb phrase

To talk loudly and angrily as a method of relieving the pressure of one's feelings; express one's anger or frustration: He's not serious, just letting off steam/ I've blown off steam/ They're bored, just blowing off steam (1837+)


steam

verb
  1. To anger; make furious: I steam easily/ It steams me to hear that our fair burg is the Crime Capital of the World (1922+)
  2. To make someone hotly amorous: Be thrilled by, chilled by, and steamed by Gilbert and Garbo (1970s+)
Related Terms

let off steam


Idioms and Phrases with blow off steam

blow off steam

Also, let off steam. Air or relieve one's pent-up feelings by loud talk or vigorous activity. For example, Joan's shouting did not mean she was angry at you; she was just blowing off steam, or After spending the day on very exacting work, Tom blew off steam by going for a long run. This metaphoric term refers to easing the pressure in a steam engine. [ Early 1800s ]

steam

see: