steam

STEEM/stiːm/

23 meanings of steam

1
noununcountable
The hot gas that water turns into when it boils.
Like the cloud you see rising above a pot of boiling water.
Steam rose from the pot of boiling water.
Be careful. The steam from the kettle can burn you.
Similarvapor
Note
2
noununcountable
Hot water vapor under pressure, used to heat, cook, or power machines.
Like the puff that makes a kettle whistle, but strong enough to push a machine.
The old engine ran on steam.
Steam from the boiler heated the whole building.
3
nounfigurativelyuncountable
Strong angry feelings that build up inside and need to come out.
Like a covered pot getting ready to boil over.
After a long day, he let off steam by yelling into a pillow.
She had so much steam built up that she slammed the door.
Similaranger, rage
Note
4
verbfigurativelyintransitive
To get very angry, often without showing it right away.
Like a kettle getting hotter and hotter inside.
I steam whenever someone cuts in line ahead of me.
She steamed silently through the entire meeting.
Similarfume, seethe, boil
5
nounfigurativelyuncountable
The energy or drive that keeps you going and making progress.
Like the energy in your legs that slowly runs out on a long walk.
By noon she had run out of steam.
The project lost steam after the funding stopped.
Similarmomentum, impetus, energy
Note
6
verbtransitive
To cook food using hot steam instead of boiling water.
Like cooking food in the hot mist over a boiling pot instead of in the water.
Steam the vegetables for about five minutes.
You can steam fish to keep it soft and moist.
Note
7
noununcountable
Cooking food by using hot steam rather than boiling it.
Like giving food a hot, misty bath to cook it.
Give the buns a quick steam before serving.
The vegetables need only a short steam to soften.
Note
8
verbintransitive
To rise up as a hot, misty cloud from something warm or wet.
Like the misty cloud that rises off a hot drink.
The hot soup steamed in the cold air.
Puddles steam as the sun heats the wet road.
Note
9
verbintransitive
To give off or let out steam.
Like a kettle that puffs out clouds when the water is hot.
The old locomotive hissed and steamed at the station.
Kettles steam when the water inside boils.
Note
10
verbintransitive
To move along quickly and with strong purpose.
Like a train rushing forward without stopping.
He steamed into the room and demanded answers.
When I get an idea, I just steam ahead with it.
Similarcharge, rush, barrel, storm
Note

11
verbtransitive
To cover a surface with a thin film of misty water.
Like the cloudy film that covers a mirror after a hot shower.
Hot showers steam the bathroom mirror.
His breath steamed the cold window.
Similarfog, mist
12
verbtransitive
To treat something with hot steam to soften or shape it.
Like holding a wrinkled shirt over a hot pot to make it smooth.
Workers steam the wood until it bends easily.
You can steam a shirt to smooth out the wrinkles.
13
noununcountable
The cloud of tiny water drops that forms when warm, wet air meets colder air.
Steam rose from her mug of hot chocolate.
After my long shower, the bathroom was full of steam.
Similarvapor, mist
Note
14
noununcountable
The little cloud you breathe out when the air is very cold.
We could see our steam in the freezing winter air.
His steam puffed out in white clouds as he climbed the hill.
Similarbreath, vapor
15
verbintransitive
To move or travel using the power of steam.
Big ships can steam for days without stopping.
The old ferry steamed slowly across the wide bay.
Similarsail
Note
16
noununcountable
The act of going somewhere on a steam-powered train or ship.
Steam made it possible to cross the country in days, not weeks.
For my grandparents, steam was the only way to reach the coast.
17
verbfigurativelytransitive
To make someone angry or annoyed.
Like a pot getting hotter and hotter until it boils over.
Little things like that steam me when I'm tired.
Rude comments online can really steam him.
Similaranger, annoy, irritate, infuriate, irk
Oppositecalm, soothe
Note
18
verbtransitive
To build up steam inside an engine to make it run.
The crew steamed the locomotive before the long climb.
Workers steam the engine every morning to get it ready.
Note
19
verbfigurativelyintransitive
To be cooked by hot steam, like vegetables in a covered pot.
The dumplings steam in a bamboo basket over boiling water.
Let the broccoli steam until it turns bright green.
Note
20
adjective
Old-fashioned and from the time before computers and digital tools.
Like a black-and-white TV in a world of smartphones.
Grandpa keeps a steam television that needs a knob to change channels.
They run the office with steam methods and stacks of paper.
Similarold-fashioned, analog, antiquated
Oppositedigital, modern
Note
21
nounobsoleteuncountable
Any breath or vapor breathed out or given off.
The healer believed the steam of the marsh carried sickness.
a steam of rich, distilled perfumes
1634, [John Milton], A Maske Presented at Ludlow CastleHere, steam means a vapor or scent given off by something.
Note
22
verbobsolete
To breathe out, or to give off vapor.
like inward fire that outward smoke had steemd
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, steemd means breathed out or gave off, like smoke.
Note
23
noun
Fencing done without electric scoring equipment.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of steam apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This word comes from Old English "stēam," meaning steam, hot breath, or vapour. It goes back to older Germanic and Indo-European roots.