steam turbine

noun

: a turbine that is driven by the pressure of steam discharged at high velocity against the turbine vanes

Examples of steam turbine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Nuclear power plants generate electricity by splitting the U-235 atom in a process called fission, which produces heat used to turn a steam turbine connected to a generator. Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 6 Aug. 2025 His great-grandfather founded a sugar-making business in 1932, then branched into sugar machinery in 1961 and steam turbines in 1968, which at first were powered by bagasse, the residue from crushing cane stalks. Anu Raghunathan, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025 These generate steam which drives steam turbines that produce energy. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025 The neutrons fly out at extremely high speeds, and so engineers must find ways to convert their kinetic energy into heat that could be used to drive steam turbines. Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for steam turbine

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of steam turbine was in 1860

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Steam turbine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steam%20turbine. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

steam turbine

noun
: a turbine that is driven by the pressure of steam discharged at high speed against the turbine blades

More from Merriam-Webster on steam turbine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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