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
Examples from the web for steam
  • But the steam engine's capacity to convert that heat into mechanical energy capable of doing work opened up new possibilities.
  • Regardless, the time has come for clean energy to emerge full steam ahead.
  • Years and years ago, steam locomotives built in this area were exported to railroads around the world.
  • The explosion damaged both the backup boiler and the main boiler, particularly a valve on the main steam line.
  • The region's recovery will lose steam next year no matter what happens elsewhere.
  • As they use only water to disinfect, steam cleaners release no toxic chemicals into the home and environment.
  • These are then captured to drive a steam generator hooked into the bases centralized heating and cooling systems.
  • Not a quaint steam operation for summer tourists, but a real freight line.
  • Serve the salmon with sushi rice if you have time, or simply steam some fragrant jasmine rice.
  • When waters are still warm, but morning air is growing frigid, little tornadoes of steam can form on lake surfaces.
British Dictionary definitions for 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 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.

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 steam

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 steam

steam

see: