vapour

American  

[vey-per] / ˈveɪ pər /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. vapor.

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vapour British  

/ ˈveɪpə /

noun

1. particles of moisture or other substance suspended in air and visible as clouds, smoke, etc

2. a gaseous substance at a temperature below its critical temperature Compare gas

3. a substance that is in a gaseous state at a temperature below its boiling point

4. rare something fanciful that lacks substance or permanence

5. archaic a depressed mental condition believed originally to be the result of vaporous exhalations from the stomach

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verb

1. to evaporate or cause to evaporate; vaporize

2. (intr) to make vain empty boasts; brag

Spelling

See -or ¹.

Other Word Forms

• vapour-like adjective
• vapourability noun
• vapourable adjective
• vapourer noun
• vapourish adjective
• vapourless adjective
• vapoury adjective

Etymology

Origin of vapour

C14: from Latin vapor

Example Sentences

Plus humidity is a big factor as moist cloudy air slows both heating and cooling because water vapour absorbs the heat.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

"When the product reaches what we call the glass transition point, the ice crystals within the candy shift from ice to vapour at the speed of sound," Ms Goldfarb adds.

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2025

"The living forest is closing down," he says, "and not producing water vapour and therefore rainfall".

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2025

The samples were rejected as they needed to be airtight so they could retain vapour from any potential accelerant used, he added.

From BBC • May 21, 2025

Signs and figures were carved above its wide arch too dim to read, and fear flowed from it like a grey vapour.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien