steam

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noun \ˈstēm\

Definition of steam

1 : a vapor arising from a heated substance
2a : the invisible vapor into which water is converted when heated to the boiling pointb : the mist formed by the condensation on cooling of water vapor
3a : water vapor kept under pressure so as to supply energy for heating, cooking, or mechanical work; also : the power so generatedb : active force : power, momentum got there under his own steam sales began to pick up steam; also : normal force at full steamc : pent-up emotional tension needed to let off a little steam
4a : steamer 2ab : travel by or a trip in a steamer

Careful, the steam from the pot is hot.
The boat runs on steam.
He wiped the steam from the mirrors.
He was afraid he would run out of steam before the end of the race.
I was making good progress this morning, but now I'm starting to run out of steam.

Middle English stem, from Old English stēam; akin to Dutch stoom steam

First Known Use: before 12th century

verb

transitive verb
1 : to give out as fumes : exhale
2 : to apply steam to; especially : to expose to the action of steam (as for softening or cooking)
intransitive verb
1 : to rise or pass off as vapor
2 : to give off steam or vapor
3a : to move or travel by the agency of steamb : to move or proceed with energy or force
4 : to be angry : boil steaming over the insult

15th Century

15th century

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noun

: the hot gas that is created when water is boiled
: steam that is created by a machine and kept under pressure to provide power
: very small drops of water that form on a surface when warm air that contains a lot of water is cooled down

verb

: to produce steam
: to cook, heat, or treat (something) with steam
: to cause (something, such as a piece of glass) to become covered with small drops of water

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noun \ˈstēm\

1 : the vapor into which water is changed when heated to the boiling point
2 : steam or the heat or power produced by it when kept under pressure Some houses are heated by steam.
3 : the mist formed when water vapor cools
4 : driving force : power By the end of the day, I had run out of steam.

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verb

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1 : to give off steam or vapor The cocoa steamed fragrantly in the saucepan … — Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time
2 : to rise or pass off as steam Heat steamed from the pipes.
3 : to move or travel by or as if by the power of steam The ship steamed out of the harbor. She steamed past the fancy brick entrance to the golf course … — Carl Hiaasen, Hoot
4 : to expose to steam (as for cooking)