steam
(stēm)n.1. a. The vapor phase of water.
b. A mist of cooling water vapor.
2. a. Pressurized water vapor used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical power.
b. The power produced by a machine using pressurized water vapor: an engine at full steam.
c. Steam heating.
3. Power; energy: The fundraising effort ran out of steam.
v. steamed, steam·ing, steams
v.intr.1. To produce or emit steam: The kettle is steaming. Let's make tea.
2. To become or rise up as steam: The rain steamed off the hot pavement.
3. To become misted or covered with steam: The bathroom mirror steamed over.
4. To move by means of steam power.
5. Informal To become very angry; fume.
v.tr.1. To expose to steam, as in cooking.
2. To cover or mist with steam: The windows are steamed up.
3. Informal To make angry: His laziness really steams me.
[Middle English steme, from Old English stēam.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
steam
(stiːm) n1. (General Physics) the gas or vapour into which water is changed when boiled
2. (General Physics) the mist formed when such gas or vapour condenses in the atmosphere
3. any vaporous exhalation
4. informal power, energy, or speed
5. (Nautical Terms) (of a ship, etc) to work up a sufficient head of steam in a boiler to drive an engine
6. (Railways) (of a ship, etc) to work up a sufficient head of steam in a boiler to drive an engine
7. informal to go quickly
8. let off steam informal to release pent-up energy or emotions
9. under one's own steam without the assistance of others
10. (Brewing) slang Austral cheap wine
11. (Mechanical Engineering) (modifier) driven, operated, heated, powered, etc, by steam: a steam radiator.
12. (modifier) treated by steam: steam ironed; steam cleaning.
13. (modifier) jocular old-fashioned; outmoded: steam radio.
vb14. to emit or be emitted as steam
15. (intr) to generate steam, as a boiler, etc
16. (Mechanical Engineering) (intr) to move or travel by steam power, as a ship, etc
17. (intr) informal to proceed quickly and sometimes forcefully
18. (Cookery) to cook or be cooked in steam
19. (tr) to treat with steam or apply steam to, as in cleaning, pressing clothes, etc
[Old English; related to Dutch stoom steam, perhaps to Old High German stioban to raise dust, Gothic stubjus dust]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
steam
(stim)
n. 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. power or energy.
v.i. 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 fol. 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. to be angry or show anger.
v.t. 13. to expose to or treat with steam, as in order to heat, cook, soften, or renovate.
14. to emit or exhale (vapor, mist, etc.).
15. to cause to become irked or angry (often fol. by up).
16. to convey by the agency of steam: to steam the ship safely into port.
adj. 17. employing or operated by steam: a steam radiator.
18. conducting steam: a steam line.
19. of or pertaining to steam.
20. propelled by or propelling with a steam engine.
Idioms: blow or let off steam, to give vent to emotion or energy previously suppressed or contained, esp. by talking or acting unrestrainedly.
[before 1000; Old English stēam, c. Frisian steam, Dutch stoom]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.