water vapor

noun

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Definition of water vapor

: water in a vaporous form especially when below boiling temperature and diffused (as in the atmosphere)

Recent Examples of water vapor from the Web

Those gases have increased the water vapor content of the atmosphere, thus making rainy areas like the Northeast more susceptible to severe rain.

— emily atkin, The New Republic, "America’s Flooded Future," 30 May 2018
The funds would cover designs for the reimagined plaza, which includes an area for art exhibits, additional landscaping, two reading areas, a new viewing screen for public movies, a water vapor cooling station, and a café with outdoor seating.

— mike morris, Houston Chronicle, "Council weighs next phase of Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza renovation," 25 Apr. 2018
In addition to the water vapor increase, climate change is likely to change prevailing wind and storm track patterns over the Pacific in a way that favors both wetter California winters in some years and drier winters in other years, Swain said.

— doyle rice, USA TODAY, "California's wild extremes of drought and floods to worsen as climate warms," 23 Apr. 2018
Take a one-meter-by-one-meter square air column, from the ground to the top of the troposphere, and condense all the water vapor.

— jeff halverson, Washington Post, "The second 1,000-year rainstorm in two years engulfed Ellicott City. Here’s how it happened.," 28 May 2018
The way that energy moves around is transporting water vapor in the atmosphere—in this case, pulled up into the storm and dumped over the land in Texas.

— mark fischetti, Scientific American, "New Data: Hurricanes Will Get Worse," 16 May 2018
Scientists have suspected since 2012 that Europa might harbor plumes, after the Hubble Space Telescope observed water vapor spouting above the moon's frigid south pole.

— sarah kaplan, courant.com, "Scientists discover new evidence for plumes on Europa, a target in the search for life," 14 May 2018
Scientists have suspected since 2012 that Europa might harbor plumes, after the Hubble Space Telescope observed water vapor spouting above the moon's frigid south pole.

— sarah kaplan, ajc, "Scientists discover new evidence for jets of water on Europa, a target in the search for life," 14 May 2018
While typical plants absorb CO2 and lose water vapor through open stomata during the day, Echeverias evolved to open their stomata during the night and close them during the day.

— paul cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "Why your 'great garden intentions' should center around succulents," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'water vapor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.