steam

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable, usually) The hot gaseous form of water, formed when water changes from the liquid phase to the gas phase (at or above its boiling point temperature).
2. (uncountable, usually) The suspended condensate (cloud) formed by water vapour when it encounters colder air.
3. (uncountable, usually) The suspended condensate (cloud) formed by water vapour when it encounters colder air.
4. (uncountable, usually) Pressurized water vapour used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical energy.
5. (uncountable, usually) The act of cooking by steaming.
6. (figuratively, uncountable, usually) Internal energy for progress or motive power.
7. (figuratively, uncountable, usually) Pent-up anger.
8. (uncountable, usually) A steam-powered vehicle, referring to their use.
9. (uncountable, usually) Travel by means of a steam-powered vehicle.
10. (obsolete, uncountable, usually) Any exhalation.
11. (uncountable, usually) Fencing without the use of any electric equipment.

Verb

1. (transitive) To cook with steam.
2. (figuratively, intransitive) To be cooked with steam.
3. (transitive) To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing.
4. (transitive) To raise steam, e.g. in a steam locomotive.
5. (intransitive) To produce or vent steam.
6. (intransitive) To rise in vapour; to issue, or pass off, as vapour.
7. (figuratively, intransitive) To become angry; to fume; to be incensed.
8. (figuratively, transitive) To make angry.
9. (transitive) To cover with condensed water vapor.
10. (intransitive) To travel by means of steam power.
11. (figuratively, literally) To move with great or excessive purposefulness.
12. (obsolete) To exhale.

Adj

Old-fashioned; from before the digital age.

Synonyms

vapor

vapour

smoke

water vapor

gas

fume

mist

water vapour

fog

🌫️

stew

🍲

air

simmer

boil

evaporation

steamer

breath

vapour

fumes

steam clean

exhalation

vapor

haze

evaporate

emit smoke

vaporize

cigarette

🚬

clouds

☁️

poach

coddle

seethe

give off smoke

cook by steaming

condensation

reek

rise

squeeze

steaming

storm

superheater

sweat

😓

warmth

weather

be sultry

not clear

be steamed

evapour

water vapor

anger

💢

water vapour

aqueous vapour

Translations

vapeur

Dampf

vapore

vapor

stoom

vapor

Wasserdampf

damp

ατμός

vapor

vapor

wasem

dampfen

بخار

Pronounced as (IPA)

/stiːm/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: steem

Inherited from Old English: stēam

Cognate with Scots: stem

Cognate with Western Frisian: steam

Cognate with Dutch: stoom

Cognate with Low German: stom

Cognate with Swedish: -

Cognate with Latin: fūmus

In summary

From Middle English steem, stem, from Old English stēam (“steam, hot exhalation, hot breath; that which emits vapour; blood”), from Proto-Germanic *staumaz (“steam, vapour, breath”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“to whirl, waft, stink, shake; steam, haze, smoke”). Cognate with Scots stem, steam (“steam”), West Frisian steam (“steam, vapour”), Dutch stoom (“steam, vapour”), Low German stom (“steam”), Swedish dialectal stimma (“steam, fog”), Latin fūmus (“smoke, steam”).