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Showing results for steamer. Search instead for Steamering.
Synonyms

steamer

American  
[stee-mer] / ˈsti mər /

noun

  • steamers
    plural
  1. something propelled or operated by steam, as a steamship.

  2. a person or thing that steams.

  3. a device, pot, or container in which something is steamed.

  4. soft-shell clam.


verb (used without object)

  1. to travel by steamship.

steamer British  
/ ˈstiːmə /

noun

  1. a boat or ship driven by steam engines

  2. Also called: steam box.  an apparatus for steaming wooden beams and planks to make them pliable for shipbuilding

  3. a vessel used to cook food by steam

  4. slang a clash of sporting teams characterized by rough play

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of steamer

First recorded in 1805–15; steam + -er 1

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.

See Examples For:

These are foam or gel-filled toys of various brands shaped like bao buns, and sometimes sold in plastic replicas of bamboo steamer baskets.

From Barron's Jun. 5, 2026

He left behind a massive steamer trunk full of manuscripts, many of which were attributed to artists not named Fernando Pessoa.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 30, 2026

"William was on the sprouts, getting his sprouts ready so they could go into the steamer, and Prince George was helping with the Yorkshire puddings," said Mr Clarke.

From BBC Dec. 20, 2025

Chi Vibes compact steamer – The Chi Vibes compact steamer is a handy travel gadget that proves really useful when needed.

From Salon Nov. 20, 2025

When I was sick with the mumps, once in the winter, my mother found one at the bottom of her steamer trunk.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Portable steamers are cheap and easy to use.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 15, 2026

The market also offers workshops to make shower steamers and toilet cleaning tabs in partnership with Seattle Zero Waste.

From Seattle Times Feb. 17, 2023

For the past 20 years she has instead worked maintaining electrical items, such as water purifiers and clothes steamers, in people's homes.

From BBC Dec. 14, 2022

Posters advertising the sales showed steamers merrily plying the imagined waters of the river.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 13, 2022

Some cities sent steamers and ladder wagons, others sent badly needed hose and fresh firefighters.

From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy

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