steam

[ steem ]

/ stim /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR steam ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

RELATED WORDS

boiling, piping, scalding, hot

Nearby words

stealth, stealth bomber, stealth tax, stealth technology, stealthy, steam, steam bath, steam beer, steam boiler, steam chest, steam coal

Idioms

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.

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 steaming

The meat glistened seductively with melted butter, piled high and steaming on top of a crisp, oily split-top bun.
My Big, Buttery Lobster Roll Rumble: We Came, We Clawed, We Conquered|Scott Bixby|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
NSA technology, so far as Carter knows, does not rise to the level of tea kettles for steaming open envelopes.
P.J. O’Rourke: Orwell Was Right|P. J. O’Rourke|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Friday morning, the monthly jobs report dumped a steaming pile of caution on the carpet.
The December Jobs Report Is Drunk|Daniel Gross|January 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It begins—in the steaming, hot-toddy voice of Scarlett Johansson—to speak to him.
How ‘Her’ Gets the Future Right|Andrew Romano|December 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST

A pair of urns dispensed coffee and the man in the knit cap raised a steaming Styrofoam cup.
The Pope Francis’ Homeless Fans|Michael Daly|March 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He would sit on Arthur's seat and hate the modern Athens steaming there below him.
Musical Criticisms|Arthur Johnstone
The odor of the steaming delicacy, so keenly looked forward to every second Sunday, reaches my nostrils and sharpens my hunger.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
By steaming, the initial process of the Moist-air kiln has been consummated.
Seasoning of Wood|Joseph B. Wagner
They were steaming northward scarcely out of sight of the shore.
Elsie at Ion|Martha Finley
Basins, some two feet across, were placed on the ground filled with steaming kesk'soo.
Life in Morocco and Glimpses Beyond|Budgett Meakin

British Dictionary definitions for steaming (1 of 2)

steaming

/ (ˈstiːmɪŋ) /

adjective

very hot

informal angry

slang drunk

noun

informal robbery, esp of passengers in a railway carriage or bus, by a large gang of armed youths

British Dictionary definitions for steaming (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 steaming (1 of 2)

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 steaming (1 of 2)

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 steaming

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 steaming

steam

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

steam

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verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

adjective

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of steam

Examples from the Web for steaming

British Dictionary definitions for.css-ylq2vz{color:#1a1a1a;} steaming (1 of 2)

steaming

adjective

noun

British Dictionary definitions for steaming (2 of 2)

steam

noun

verb

Word Origin for steam

Word Origin and History for steaming (1 of 2)

steam

Word Origin and History for steaming (1 of 2)

steam

Science definitions for steaming

steam

Idioms and Phrases with steaming

steam

noun

British Dictionary definitions for steaming (1 of 2)