steam
[steem]
- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- blow/let off steam, Informal. 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.
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Origin of steam
before 1000; Middle English steme, Old English stēam; cognate with Dutch stoom
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for steaming
Contemporary Examples
The meat glistened seductively with melted butter, piled high and steaming on top of a crisp, oily split-top bun.
NSA technology, so far as Carter knows, does not rise to the level of tea kettles for steaming open envelopes.
But Friday morning, the monthly jobs report dumped a steaming pile of caution on the carpet.
It begins—in the steaming, hot-toddy voice of Scarlett Johansson—to speak to him.
A pair of urns dispensed coffee and the man in the knit cap raised a steaming Styrofoam cup.
Historical Examples
If fish is to be cooked by steaming, first clean it thoroughly.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 3Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Six-Cross-Roads lay dark and steaming in the sun that morning.
The Gentleman From IndianaBooth Tarkington
The unhappy colt was steaming like a pot-au-feu when the lid is raised.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
After steaming, the fiber and its adjuncts were easily stripped from the wood.
Steaming is one of the simplest and best ways of cooking potatoes.
The Skilful CookMary Harrison
steaming
- very hot
- informal angry
- slang drunk
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- informal robbery, esp of passengers in a railway carriage or bus, by a large gang of armed youths
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steam
- 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
- informalto 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
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- 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
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See also steam up
Word Origin
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 steaming
steam
n.
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.
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steam
v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with steaming
steam
see blow off steam; full speed (steam) ahead; get up steam; run out of steam; under one's own steam.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.