steam
noun
- Obsolete a vapor, fume, or exhalation
- water as converted into an invisible vapor or gas by being heated to the boiling point; vaporized water: it is used for heating, cooking, cleaning, and, under pressure, as a source of power
- the power supplied by steam under pressure
- Informal driving force; vigor; energy
- condensed water vapor, seen as the mist condensed on windows or in the air above boiling water
adjective
- using steam; heated, operated, propelled, etc. by steam
- containing or conducting steam: a steam pipe
- treated with, or exposed to the action of, steam
intransitive verb
- to give off steam or a steamlike vapor, esp. condensed water vapor
- to rise or be given off as steam
- to become covered with condensed steam: usually with up: when the hot bath was drawn, the bathroom mirror steamed up
- to generate steam
- to move or travel by or as if by steam power
- Informal to seethe with anger, vexation, etc.; fume
transitive verb
- to treat with, or expose to the action of, steam; cook, soften, remove, open, etc. by using steam
- to give off (vapor) or emit as steam
See steam in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(stēm)
nouna. The vapor phase of water.
b. A mist of cooling water vapor.
a. Pressurized water vapor used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical power.
b. The power produced by a machine using pressurized water vapor.
c. Steam heating.
- Power; energy.
verb steamed steamed,
steam·ing,
steams verb, intransitive- To produce or emit steam.
- To become or rise up as steam.
- To become misted or covered with steam.
- To move by means of steam power.
- Informal To become very angry; fume.
verb, transitive To expose to steam, as in cooking.
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