steam
1 Americannoun
-
water in the form of an invisible gas or vapor.
-
water changed to this form by boiling, extensively used for the generation of mechanical power, for heating purposes, etc.
-
the mist formed when the gas or vapor from boiling water condenses in the air.
-
an exhalation of a vapor or mist.
-
Informal. power or energy.
verb (used without object)
-
to emit or give off steam or vapor.
-
to rise or pass off in the form of steam or vapor.
-
to become covered with condensed steam, as a window or other surface (often followed byup ).
-
to generate or produce steam, as in a boiler.
-
to move or travel by the agency of steam.
-
to move rapidly or evenly.
He steamed out of the room.
-
Informal. to be angry or show anger.
Fans are still steaming from Monday night’s sloppy 5-4 loss.
verb (used with object)
-
to expose to or treat with steam, as in order to heat, cook, soften, renovate, or the like.
-
to emit or exhale (steam or vapor).
-
Informal. to cause to become irked or angry (often followed byup ).
-
to convey by the agency of steam.
to steam the ship safely into port.
adjective
-
heated by or heating with steam.
a steam radiator.
-
propelled by or propelling with a steam engine.
-
operated by steam.
-
conducting steam.
a steam line.
-
bathed with or affected by steam.
-
of or relating to steam.
idioms
noun
noun
-
the gas or vapour into which water is changed when boiled
-
the mist formed when such gas or vapour condenses in the atmosphere
-
any vaporous exhalation
-
informal power, energy, or speed
-
-
(of a ship, etc) to work up a sufficient head of steam in a boiler to drive an engine
-
informal to go quickly
-
-
informal to release pent-up energy or emotions
-
without the assistance of others
-
slang cheap wine
-
(modifier) driven, operated, heated, powered, etc, by steam
a steam radiator
-
(modifier) treated by steam
steam ironed
steam cleaning
-
humorous (modifier) old-fashioned; outmoded
steam radio
verb
-
to emit or be emitted as steam
-
(intr) to generate steam, as a boiler, etc
-
(intr) to move or travel by steam power, as a ship, etc
-
informal (intr) to proceed quickly and sometimes forcefully
-
to cook or be cooked in steam
-
(tr) to treat with steam or apply steam to, as in cleaning, pressing clothes, etc
-
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
-
A mist of condensed water vapor.
Other Word Forms
- outsteam verb (used with object)
- presteam adjective
- steamless adjective
- unsteamed adjective
- unsteaming adjective
Etymology
Origin of steam
before 1000; Middle English steme, Old English stēam; cognate with Dutch stoom
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Malaysia’s benchmark Kuala Lumpur Composite Index is trading at levels not seen since 2019, and its IPO market is gathering steam.
Global smartphone sales are picking up steam again, powered by a slew of new models offering innovative new features -- many of them from Chinese manufacturers.
From Barron's
Leah boarded a steam train, traveled the 200 miles to Troy, and arrived that night.
From Literature
Sometimes I would start out running as fast as I could to see if I was man enough to make it all the way before I ran out of steam.
From Literature
Sometimes little things could make Red steaming mad.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
