steaming

Pluralsteamings (some meanings)

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle of steam. Use this form for an action happening right now.

   The soup is steaming on the stove right now.

   He kept steaming the dumplings until they were soft.

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Letting out hot water vapor into the air.

   Like a hot bath that sends clouds of mist into the air.

   She set a steaming bowl of soup on the table.

   The mug of cocoa was still steaming when he picked it up.

3. 3
   adjective

   So hot that it almost feels like it could burn you.

   Like standing right next to an open oven.

   It was a steaming hot afternoon, so we stayed inside.

   By midday the beach sand was steaming hot under our feet.

   Similarsweltering, scorching, boiling, baking

   Oppositefreezing, cold

4. 4
   noununcountable

   A way of cooking food by surrounding it with hot vapor instead of water.

   Like giving food a hot mist bath instead of boiling it in water.

   Steaming is a healthy way to cook fish.

   She prefers steaming to frying because it uses no oil.

5. 5
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The way hot vapor works on or changes something.

   The steaming of the wood helped bend it into shape.

   A good steaming removed the wrinkles from the suit.

6. 6
   adjectiveslang

   Very angry and upset.

   Like a kettle boiling so hard it almost bursts.

   Dad was steaming when he saw the broken window.

   She was absolutely steaming after losing the game.

   Similarfurious, livid, fuming, angry

   Oppositecalm

   Note
7. 7
   adjectiveslangUK

   Very drunk after having too much alcohol.

   They were steaming by the end of the wedding party.

   He came home steaming after a night at the pub.

   Similardrunk, hammered, plastered, wasted, smashed

   Oppositesober

   Note
8. 8
   noununcountable

   Making and keeping up the steam that powers an engine while it runs.

   Like getting a fire hot enough before you can cook on it.

   Steaming the old engine took several hours.

   Without enough coal, steaming was slow that morning.

   Note
9. 9
   noununcountable

   Traveling across the sea in a ship powered by steam.

   Steaming across the ocean used to take many days.

   The ship's steaming was smooth despite the rough sea.

   Similarsailing

10. 10
    nouncolloquialUKuncountable

    A type of robbery where a big gang rushes through a bus or train, robbing people fast.

    Like a sudden rush of people storming through and grabbing everything before anyone can react.

    Steaming left several passengers shaken and robbed.

    There was a wave of steaming on the night buses that winter.

    Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 10