steamer

[ stee-mer ]

/ ˈsti mər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR steamer ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

something propelled or operated by steam, as a steamship.

a person or thing that steams.

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

soft-shell clam.

verb (used without object)

to travel by steamship.

Nearby words

steamboat, steamboat gothic, steamboat springs, steamed, steamed up, steamer, steamer basket, steamer chair, steamer rug, steamer trunk, steamie

Origin of steamer

First recorded in 1805–15; steam + -er¹

Definition for steamer (2 of 2)

steam

[ steem ]

/ stim /

noun

water in the form of an invisible gas or vapor.

water changed to this form by boiling, extensively used for the generation of mechanical power, for heating purposes, etc.

the mist formed when the gas or vapor from boiling water condenses in the air.

an exhalation of a vapor or mist.

Informal. power or energy.

verb (used without object)

to emit or give off steam or vapor.

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

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

to generate or produce steam, as in a boiler.

to move or travel by the agency of steam.

to move rapidly or evenly: He steamed out of the room.

Informal. to be angry or show anger: Fans are still steaming from Monday night’s sloppy 5-4 loss.

verb (used with object)

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

to emit or exhale (steam or vapor).

Informal. to cause to become irked or angry (often followed by up).

to convey by the agency of steam: to steam the ship safely into port.

adjective

heated by or heating with steam: a steam radiator.

propelled by or propelling with a steam engine.

operated by steam.

conducting steam: a steam line.

bathed with or affected by steam.

of or relating to steam.

Origin of steam

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

Related forms

steam·less, adjectiveout·steam, verb (used with object)pre·steam, adjective, verb (used with object)un·steamed, adjective

un·steam·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for steamer

One minute the script, the next a story about Ivor Novello's tailor or the Tahiti steamer schedule in the Thirties.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Steamer service on the Amazon had turned a journey of three months into one of mere days.
Exploring the Amazon, While We Still Can|Darrell Hartman|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The steamer trunks under the windows are for storing toys and for dressing up clothes.
OMG I Want That ...Nursery (Royal Edition)|Tom Sykes|May 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Carefully place the platter of salmon and vegetables on top of a rack or steamer tray in the roasting pan.
Fresh Picks|Nina Simonds|April 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Goodbye cookies, goodbye greasy finger foods, hello Asian steamer.
The Perfect Ceviche|Cookstr.com|January 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST
It must be remembered that, since the steamer went down, the only rest I had enjoyed was while sitting over the fire with Marcus.
The Perils and Adventures of Harry Skipwith|W.H.G. Kingston
One hot day, during a portion of our journey performed by steamer, I looked up from my book, and saw him coming toward me.
The American Gentleman's Guide to Politeness and Fashion|Henry Lunettes
So he began with the story, first with his meeting Zobriskie on the steamer, and so on until he was landed in Siberia.
The Boy Nihilist|Allan Arnold
The steamer arrived at her wharf at ten o'clock this morning, and a few minutes later.
Born Again|Alfred Lawson
A deck-hand tossed a cast-line to the steamer's deck, and Mayo promptly threw it back.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day

British Dictionary definitions for steamer (1 of 2)

steamer

/ (ˈstiːmə) /

noun

a boat or ship driven by steam engines

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

a vessel used to cook food by steam

Australian slang a clash of sporting teams characterized by rough play

British Dictionary definitions for steamer (2 of 2)

steam

/ (stiːm) /

noun

the gas or vapour into which water is changed when boiled

the mist formed when such gas or vapour condenses in the atmosphere

any vaporous exhalation

informal power, energy, or speed

get up steam

(of a ship, etc) to work up a sufficient head of steam in a boiler to drive an engine
informal to go quickly

let off steam informal to release pent-up energy or emotions

under one's own steam without the assistance of others

Australian slang cheap wine

(modifier) driven, operated, heated, powered, etc, by steama steam radiator

(modifier) treated by steamsteam ironed; steam cleaning

(modifier) jocular old-fashioned; outmodedsteam radio

verb

to emit or be emitted as steam

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

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

(intr) informal to proceed quickly and sometimes forcefully

to cook or be cooked in steam

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

Word Origin for steam

Old English; related to Dutch stoom steam, perhaps to Old High German stioban to raise dust, Gothic stubjus dust

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

Word Origin and History for steamer (1 of 3)

steamer

1814 in the cookery sense, agent noun from steam (v.). From 1825 as "a vessel propelled by steam," hence steamer trunk (1885), one that carries the essentials for a voyage.

Word Origin and History for steamer (1 of 3)

steam

Old English steam "vapor, fume," from Proto-Germanic *staumaz (cf. Dutch stoom), of unknown origin. Steam age first attested 1941. Steam heat as a method of temperature control recorded from 1904.

Word Origin and History for steamer (2 of 3)

steam

Old English stemen, stymen "to emit a scent or odor," from the root of steam (n.). Slang meaning "to make angry" is from 1922. Related: Steamed; steaming.

Science definitions for steamer

steam

[ stēm ]

Water in its gaseous state, especially at a temperature above the boiling point of water (above 100°C, or 212°F, at sea level). See Note at vapor.

A mist of condensed water vapor.

Idioms and Phrases with steamer

steam

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

steamer

noun

verb (used without object)

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of steamer

Definition for steamer (2 of 2)

steam

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

adjective

Origin of steam

Examples from the Web for steamer

British Dictionary definitions for steamer (1 of 2)

steamer

noun

British Dictionary definitions for steamer (2 of 2)

steam

noun

verb

Word Origin for steam

Word Origin and History for steamer (1 of 3)

steamer

Word Origin and History for steamer (1 of 3)

steam

Word Origin and History for steamer (2 of 3)

steam

Science definitions for steamer

steam

Idioms and Phrases with steamer

steam