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• steam
  steam

  noun

  water in the form of an invisible gas or vapor.
• STEAM
  STEAM

  noun

  science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, considered as a group of academic or career fields (often used attributively).

steam

¹ American  

[steem] / stim /

noun

• steam
  plural

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.

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verb (used without object)

• steams,
  present (3rd person singular)
• steamed,
  past participle,  past
• steaming
  present participle

1. to emit or give off steam or vapor.

2. to rise or pass off in the form of steam or vapor.

3. to become covered with condensed steam, as a window or other surface (often followed byup ).

4. to generate or produce steam, as in a boiler.

5. to move or travel by the agency of steam.

6. to move rapidly or evenly.

   He steamed out of the room.

7. Informal. to be angry or show anger.

   Fans are still steaming from Monday night’s sloppy 5-4 loss.

verb (used with object)

• steams,
  present (3rd person singular)
• steamed,
  past participle,  past
• steaming
  present participle

1. to expose to or treat with steam, as in order to heat, cook, soften, renovate, or the like.

2. to emit or exhale (steam or vapor).

3. Informal. to cause to become irked or angry (often followed byup ).

4. to convey by the agency of steam.

   to steam the ship safely into port.

adjective

1. heated by or heating with steam.

   a steam radiator.

2. propelled by or propelling with a steam engine.

3. operated by steam.

4. conducting steam.

   a steam line.

5. bathed with or affected by steam.

6. of or relating to steam.

idioms

1. blow / let off steam, 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.

STEAM ² American  

[steem] / stim /

noun

1. science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, considered as a group of academic or career fields (often used attributively).

   Engaging students in STEAM subjects helps them become adept at solving all kinds of problems they might encounter, regardless of their chosen careers.

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steam British  

/ 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. 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 to release pent-up energy or emotions

7. without the assistance of others

8. 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. humorous (modifier) old-fashioned; outmoded

    steam radio

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verb

1. to emit or be emitted as steam

2. (intr) to generate steam, as a boiler, etc

3. (intr) to move or travel by steam power, as a ship, etc

4. informal (intr) to proceed quickly and sometimes forcefully

5. to cook or be cooked in steam

6. (tr) to treat with steam or apply steam to, as in cleaning, pressing clothes, etc

steam Scientific  

/ 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).

2. See Note at vapor

3. A mist of condensed water vapor.

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steam More Idioms  

1. see blow off steam; full speed (steam) ahead; get up steam; run out of steam; under one's own steam.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• outsteam
  verb (used with object)
• presteam
  adjective
• steamless
  adjective
• unsteamed
  adjective
• unsteaming
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• steam
  plural

Participles

• steaming
  present
• steamed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• steam
  simple
• steams
  simple
• have steamed
  perfect
• has steamed
  perfect
• am steaming
  progressive
• are steaming
  progressive
• is steaming
  progressive
• have been steaming
  perfect progressive
• has been steaming
  perfect progressive

Past

• steamed
  simple
• had steamed
  perfect
• was steaming
  progressive
• were steaming
  progressive
• had been steaming
  perfect progressive

Future

• will steam
  simple
• will have steamed
  perfect
• will be steaming
  progressive
• will have been steaming
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of steam

before 1000; Middle English steme, Old English stēam; cognate with Dutch stoom

Explanation

Steam is what water becomes when it's heated to boiling and begins to turn into a gas. On a cold morning, you can really see the steam rising off your mug of hot chocolate. The steam we can see is water vapor, made up of the tiny water drops that form while water condenses. People have put steam to work in many different ways, including cooking, cleaning, and even powering trains and boats. If you "let off steam," you express your frustration or anger to calm yourself down. If you "lose steam," you lose energy or enthusiasm.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

steam STEAM steams steamed steaming

"Taken together, the data suggest that US economic momentum may be losing some steam, strengthening expectations that the Federal Reserve could leave rates unchanged in September."

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

Its major components, including reactor vessel heads, steam generator parts and low-pressure and high-pressure turbines, were all recently updated as part of the 2030 extension, said Maureen Zawalick, chief risk officer at PG&E.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

James Watt's steam engine is one famous example, but the same basic concept remains central to modern transportation and electricity production, powering cars, ships, planes and many power plants.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026

“This decision will result in carriers that are enabled by battle-tested steam and hydraulic systems that are more resilient and robust than the present, more exquisite, follow-on systems,” the White House said in a statement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

But the train whistle hooted and the engine roared, and a thick, rolling fog of steam blanketed the station platform.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Jakes, the televangelist and bestselling author, is aiming to help avert a looming employment crisis for minority communities by promoting a camp based on STEAM.

From Washington Times ● Feb. 3, 2022

So I yelled and yelled and yelled about that every time I went to Washington and now the narrative of the national education policy is STEAM.

From New York Times ● Nov. 12, 2018

But personally I like to call it STEAM.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 7, 2016

With STEAM, the pressure is off to become a scientist or engineer—you can be a designer, digital artist, coder, art director, and scientist and engineer all at the same time.

From Slate ● Jun. 16, 2015

STEAM: Steam is a good key word, to enable one to remember how the good workman works efficiently and profitably.

From The Choctaw Freedmen and The Story of Oak Hill Industrial Academy by Robert Elliott Flickinger

The emptied vessel then returns to Iran—or at least used to, before the blockade—while the newly laden one steams on to China.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Norris also maintained other income steams, including a long-running role as a pitchman for the Total Gym line of exercise equipment, promoting his fitness regimen well into his 80s.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 20, 2026

Crew members in cargo pants prepare scenery on stage, the costume department steams dresses and hairstylists comb wigs in a basement room backstage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025

As Stuart Broad steams into bowl, watched studiously by Stokes and McCullum, a less familiar member of England's camp looks on from behind the nets.

From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2023

One of the radiators clangs and steams all day despite various attempts to shut it down.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

My rice and eggs began with a feta-fried egg over steamed white rice.

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026

A hulking tanker known as the Plata Carrier steamed out of the Strait of Hormuz last week carrying 2 million barrels of crude.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

One business that sells steamed savoury suet puddings, an old-school British classic, worries memories of days gone by may not be enough to keep their puddings going in the long term.

From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2026

The tanker quickly steamed toward India’s biggest refiner, owned by Reliance Industries, where it unloaded the oil on March 8.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

Golden brown loaves that glistened and steamed in the cool air.

From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz

Those were days of profound anguish for distraught families back in Ecuador, who had no idea their loved ones were safe — and steaming toward Central America.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026

A steaming cup of coffee gradually cools, a laptop warms up during use, and sunlight heats the Earth's surface.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 8, 2026

The MCC has copied a technique of "steaming", which is used by the All England Lawn Tennis Club for the courts that host Wimbledon.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

What you’re left with are little shards of savory excess, perfect for scattering over grain bowls, steaming congee, salads, pastas, anything that could use a jolt of salt, fat, and crunch.

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026

“Wash your hands,” Mom says, bringing a bowl with a steaming pile of something green to the table.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz