STEAM Definition & Meaning

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steam

[ steem ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

water in the form of an invisible gas or vapor.
water changed to this form by boiling, extensively used for the generation of mechanical power, for heating purposes, etc.
the mist formed when the gas or vapor from boiling water condenses in the air.
an exhalation of a vapor or mist.
Informal. power or energy.

verb (used without object)

to emit or give off steam or vapor.
to rise or pass off in the form of steam or vapor.
to become covered with condensed steam, as a window or other surface (often followed by up ).
to generate or produce steam, as in a boiler.
to move or travel by the agency of steam.
to move rapidly or evenly:
He steamed out of the room.
Informal. to be angry or show anger:
Fans are still steaming from Monday night’s sloppy 5-4 loss.

verb (used with object)

to expose to or treat with steam, as in order to heat, cook, soften, renovate, or the like.
to emit or exhale (steam or vapor).
Informal. to cause to become irked or angry (often followed by up ).
to convey by the agency of steam:
to steam the ship safely into port.

adjective

heated by or heating with steam:
a steam radiator.
propelled by or propelling with a steam engine.
operated by steam.
conducting steam:
a steam line.
bathed with or affected by steam.
of or relating to steam.

STEAM

[ steem ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, considered as a group of academic or career fields (often used attributively):
Engaging students in STEAM subjects helps them become adept at solving all kinds of problems they might encounter, regardless of their chosen careers.

steam

/ ��پ�ː�� /

noun

the gas or vapour into which water is changed when boiled
the mist formed when such gas or vapour condenses in the atmosphere
any vaporous exhalation
informal.
power, energy, or speed
get up steam
1. (of a ship, etc) to work up a sufficient head of steam in a boiler to drive an engine
2. to go quickly
let off steam informal.
to release pent-up energy or emotions
under one's own steam
without the assistance of others
slang.
cheap wine
modifier driven, operated, heated, powered, etc, by steam
a steam radiator
modifier treated by steam
steam ironed
steam cleaning
humorous.
modifier old-fashioned; outmoded
steam radio

verb

to emit or be emitted as steam
intr to generate steam, as a boiler, etc
intr to move or travel by steam power, as a ship, etc
informal.
intr to proceed quickly and sometimes forcefully
to cook or be cooked in steam
tr to treat with steam or apply steam to, as in cleaning, pressing clothes, etc

steam

/ ��ŧ�� /

Water in its gaseous state, especially at a temperature above the boiling point of water (above 100°C, or 212°F, at sea level).
See Note at vapor
A mist of condensed water vapor.

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��ٱ𲹳�l�� adjective
�ǳܳ��ȴ�ٱ𲹳� verb (used with object)
��·��ٱ𲹳� adjective verb (used with object)
�ܲ�·��ٱ𲹳�� adjective
�ܲ�·��ٱ𲹳�i�Բ� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of steam¹

before 1000; Middle English steme, Old English ��ŧ��; cognate with Dutch stoom

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of steam¹

Old English; related to Dutch stoom steam, perhaps to Old High German stioban to raise dust, Gothic stubjus dust

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Idioms and Phrases

blow / let off steam, Informal. to give vent to one's repressed emotions, especially by talking or behaving in an unrestrained manner:
Don't take her remarks too seriously—she was just blowing off steam.

More idioms and phrases containing steam

see blow off steam ; full speed (steam) ahead ; get up steam ; run out of steam ; under one's own steam .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Finished seventh in 2024 when appeared to run out of steam.

From

Use it to garnish steamed clams or mussels or mix it into a savory stuffing for roasted oysters.

From

But in the end, what keeps me coming back to a gym is the promise of a sauna or steam after my workout.

From

When the biscuits bake, the water in the butter turns to steam, puffing up the dough to form delicate, crisp layers.

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“You can’t let another team get started to their strengths,” Cronin said, “because you start a snowball rolling downhill, it picks up steam.”

From

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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