water vapor

|

noun

a dispersion, in air, of molecules of water, especially as produced by evaporation at ambient temperatures rather than by boiling.Compare steam(def 2).

RELATED CONTENT

What Is The Difference Between Snow Flurries And Snow Showers?Snow refers to the partially frozen water vapor which falls in flakes. The expression snow flurries refers to light, intermittent snowfall without significant accumulation. Snow flurries tend to come from stratiform clouds. Snow showers is the label used to refer to a short period of light-to-moderate snowfall, also characterized by a sudden beginning and ending. There is some accumulation with snow showers, and they fall from convective or cumuliform clouds. A snow …

Deep State And Other Trending Words On Dictionary.com Turpitude, venality, and demagogue When former CIA Director John Brennan weighed in on the firing of former Deputy Director of the FBI Andrew McCabe, he likely expected to make waves. But did he know he’d send searches for his word choices skyrocketing on Dictionary.com? The director’s tweet, issued in response to President Donald Trump, represents the biggest spike in searches on Dictionary.com this week! If …

Nearby words

water trap, water treatment, water tube boiler, water turbine, water turkey, water vapor, water vapour, water vole, water wagon, water wagtail, water wave

Origin of water vapor

First recorded in 1875–80

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

Examples from the Web for water vapor

The total volume of air (which may be designated as V) includes the volumes of carbon dioxide, water-vapor, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Respiration Calorimeters for Studying the Respiratory Exchange and Energy Transformations of Man|Francis Gano Benedict
The air entering the chamber is free from water-vapor and carbon dioxide.
Respiration Calorimeters for Studying the Respiratory Exchange and Energy Transformations of Man|Francis Gano Benedict
The resulting products of this combustion, if it is complete, are carbon dioxide and water-vapor.
Artificial Light|M. Luckiesh
As the water-vapor is absorbed by the sulphuric acid, there is a slight increase in volume of the acid.
Respiration Calorimeters for Studying the Respiratory Exchange and Energy Transformations of Man|Francis Gano Benedict

Any variations in the residual amount of carbon dioxide or water-vapor likewise affect the oxygen.
Respiration Calorimeters for Studying the Respiratory Exchange and Energy Transformations of Man|Francis Gano Benedict

Science definitions for water vapor

water vapor

Water in its gaseous state, especially in the atmosphere and at a temperature below the boiling point. Water vapor in the atmosphere serves as the raw material for cloud and rain formation. It also helps regulate the Earth's temperature by reflecting and scattering radiation from the Sun and by absorbing the Earth's infrared radiation. See also vapor.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.