water vapor

American  

noun

1. a dispersion, in air, of molecules of water, especially as produced by evaporation at ambient temperatures rather than by boiling.

---

water vapor Scientific  

1. Water in its gaseous state, especially in the atmosphere and at a temperature below the boiling point. Water vapor in the atmosphere serves as the raw material for cloud and rain formation. It also helps regulate the Earth's temperature by reflecting and scattering radiation from the Sun and by absorbing the Earth's infrared radiation.

2. See also vapor

---

Etymology

Origin of water vapor

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Ajami pointed out that extreme heat is not only causing snow to melt faster but is also causing sublimation, in which snow is transformed directly to water vapor.

From Los Angeles Times

The season’s rainstorm brought a sky as blue as a newborn’s eyes, but water vapor is still rising from the multicolored canopies.

From Los Angeles Times

Additional eco-friendly luxury features are the “water vapor fireplaces,” built-in water filtration, and air ventilation system, which “ensure a healthy lifestyle at all times.”

From MarketWatch

Looking at the past 30 years, the ensemble simulations showed an overall rise in atmospheric water vapor linked to increasing global temperatures.

From Science Daily

Farther from the sun, water freezes into ice, which is easier for growing planets to collect than water vapor.

From Science Daily