vapor

1 of 2

noun

va·​por ˈvā-pər How to pronounce vapor (audio)
1
: diffused matter (such as smoke or fog) suspended floating in the air and impairing its transparency
2
a
: a substance in the gaseous state as distinguished from the liquid or solid state
b
: a substance (such as gasoline, alcohol, mercury, or benzoin) vaporized for industrial, therapeutic, or military uses
also : a mixture (such as the explosive mixture in an internal combustion engine) of such a vapor with air
3
a
: something unsubstantial or transitory : phantasm
b
: a foolish or fanciful idea
4
vapors plural
a
archaic : exhalations of bodily organs (such as the stomach) held to affect the physical or mental condition
b
: a depressed or hysterical nervous condition

vapor

2 of 2

verb

vapored; vaporing ˈvā-p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce vapor (audio)

intransitive verb

1
a
: to rise or pass off in vapor
b
: to emit vapor
2
: to indulge in bragging, blustering, or idle talk
vaporer noun

Did you know?

Speakers of the English language, mindful of the lightness and unsubstantiality of floating air and gas, have put several airy words to good use over the years to describe the act of talking idly or boastfully. The earliest such word is blow (as in "he kept blowing about his new job"), which drifted into English sometime about 1400. Vapor wafted into the language in the 1620s, and a little over 200 years later windbags, later also known as gasbags, not only blew and vapored but also gassed about anything they could.

Examples of vapor in a Sentence

Verb a faded Southern belle tiresomely vaporing about all the handsome beaux she had in her long-ago youth
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This causes liquid water from oceans, lakes and other surface waters to be converted into vapor. Billy Stockwell, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 The refrigerant boils and evaporates into a vapor, and a compressor increases its temperature and pressure. IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2024 In the summer, when the temperature in Phoenix’s north valley climbs well above 100 degrees, the heat would rise like a vapor cloud from the asphalt parking lot that hugged Ozzie Ice’s two mini rinks. Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2024 Rydberg Technologies also offers atomic vapor cells and vacuum chambers for other companies to use with their quantum and photonic devices. Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Petroleum storage tanks, mud pits, reserve pits and other spaces around an oil wellhead can all come with more exposure to chemicals, flammable vapors or gasses that could cause workers to suffocate. Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2024 Researchers develop the prints by letting cyanoacrylate vapor molecules react with components in the latent fingerprint residue. Partha Banerjee, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2024 In addition, the Groove Cara Pen comes with a high-grade glass mouthpiece that results in more excellent vapor quality. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2024 Unlike previous versions of the bill, Vos said most forms of cannabis would be allowed, including concentrates, oils, tinctures, edibles, pills, topical creams and vapors, among others. Journal Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2024
Verb
Volatility, even if reduced in new products, means droplets can go from liquid to vapor and travel on the wind, even after spraying. The Arizona Republic, 10 Feb. 2024 The other challenge was the presence of both liquid and vapor the refrigeration cycle. IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2021 This gradually increases the amount of vapor produced as the system absorbs heat and converts liquid to vapor. Issam Mudawar, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2023 At the surface, standard geothermal technology would be implemented for electricity generation (an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) plant, using a secondary organic working fluid that is flashed to vapor to drive a turbine/generator; or, direct flashing to steam). Ian Palmer, Forbes, 19 May 2022 Large windows angle open, and massive glass doors turn indoors into outdoors with a smooth slide as state-of-the-art ventilation systems silently spirit smoke and vapor away. Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2022 Despite what ads tell you, no waterproof shell is completely breathable—blocking water requires some impediments to vapor transfer. Outside Online, 27 May 2022 The work had to be done quickly as water vanished to vapor in the early summer heat. Scott Wilson, Washington Post, 19 June 2021 Meanwhile, in a natural process called wicking, that moisture turns to vapor as it is continuously pulled outward from minuscule air spaces between the fibers of the felt, eventually evaporating entirely. Emma Wartzman, Bon Appétit, 5 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vapor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English vapour, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French vapor, vapour, borrowed from Latin vapor, earlier vapōs "exhalation, steam, warmth," perhaps akin to Lithuanian kvãpas "smell, scent"

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vapor was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near vapor

Cite this Entry

“Vapor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vapor. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vapor

noun
va·​por
ˈvā-pər
1
: fine particles of matter (as fog or smoke) floating in the air and clouding it
2
: a substance in the gaseous state

Medical Definition

vapor

noun
va·​por
variants or chiefly British vapour
1
a
: a substance in the gaseous state as distinguished from the liquid or solid state
b
: a substance (as alcohol or benzoin) vaporized for industrial, therapeutic, or military uses
2
vapors or chiefly British vapours plural
a
: exhalations of bodily organs (as the stomach) formerly held to affect the physical or mental condition
b
: a depressed or hysterical nervous condition

More from Merriam-Webster on vapor

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