steam
Entry from World dictionary
Pronunciation:/stiːm/
noun
[mass noun]- the vapour into which water is converted when heated, forming a white mist of minute water droplets in the air
- the invisible gaseous form of water, formed by boiling, from which this vapour condenses
- the expansive force of this vapour used as a source of power for machines:the equipment was originally powered by steam [as modifier] :a steam locomotive
- locomotives and railway systems powered in this way:we were trainspotters in the last years of steam
- energy and momentum or impetus:the anti-corruption drive gathered steam
verb
- 1 [no object] give off or produce steam:a mug of coffee was steaming at her elbow
- (steam up or steam something up) become or cause something to become covered or misted over with steam:[no object] :the glass keeps steaming up [with object] :the warm air had begun to steam up the windows
- 2 [with object] cook (food) by heating it in steam from boiling water:steam the vegetables until just tender
- [no object] (of food) cook by heating in steam:leave the mussels to steam
- clean or otherwise treat with steam:he steamed his shirts to remove the odour
- [with object and complement or adverbial] apply steam to (something fixed with adhesive) so as to open or loosen it:he'd steamed the letter open and then resealed it
- 3 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a ship or train) travel somewhere under steam power:the 11.54 steamed into the station
- informal come , go , or move somewhere rapidly or in a forceful way:Jeremy steamed in ten minutes late figurative the company has steamed ahead with its investment programme
- [no object] (steam in) British informal start or join a fight
- [no object] (often as noun steaming) informal (of a gang of thieves) move rapidly through a public place, stealing things or robbing people on the way
- 4 [no object] (often be/get steamed up) informal be or become extremely agitated or angry:you got all steamed up over nothing! after steaming behind the closed door in his office , he came out and screamed at her
- 5 [with object] generate steam in and operate (a steam locomotive)

Phrases
get up (or pick up) steam
- 1 generate enough pressure to drive a steam engine
- 2 (of a project in its early stages) gradually gain more impetus:his campaign steadily picked up steam
have steam coming out of one's ears
- informal be extremely angry or irritated
in steam
- (of a steam locomotive) ready for work , with steam in the boiler
let (or blow) off steam
- informal get rid of pent-up energy or strong emotion
run out of steam
- informal lose impetus or enthusiasm:a rebellion that had run out of steam
under one's own steam
- British (with reference to travel) without assistance from others:we're going to have to get there under our own steam
under steam
- (of a machine) being operated by steam

Origin:
Old English stēam ‘vapour’, stēman ‘emit a scent, be exhaled’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stoom ‘steam’
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