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steam

Syllabification:

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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