vapour

[vey-per]

noun

Chiefly British.

1. vapor.

vapour

/ 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

verb

1. to evaporate or cause to evaporate; vaporize

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

Spelling Note

See -or ¹.

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of vapour¹

C14: from Latin vapor

Example Sentences

Allowing Andrew to voluntarily give up his titles, which theoretically remain in place, gave him a way out, still holding on to a little of the disappearing vapour trail of his pride.

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This often attracts attention among online conspiracy theorists, who falsely claim that condensation trails in the sky – water vapour created from aircraft jet engines – is evidence of sinister large-scale geoengineering today.

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One of the most important is a measure of how much moisture the atmosphere can extract from the land, known as the "vapour pressure deficit".

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That means that as it approaches the Sun later this year, the energy from the Sun will heat the object's surface, leading to blazes of vapour and dust.

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The BBC reported in February the supermarkets were displaying posters and video screens showing devices which create a nicotine-containing vapour by heating tobacco with an electric current.

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