steam Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun water at boiling temperature diffused in the atmosphere
  2. verb travel by means of steam power
    steamer.
    • The ship steamed off into the Pacific
  3. verb emit steam
    • The rain forest was literally steaming
  4. verb rise as vapor
  5. verb get very angry
    • her indifference to his amorous advances really steamed the young man
  6. verb clean by means of steaming
    steam clean.
    • steam-clean the upholstered sofa
  7. verb cook something by letting steam pass over it
    • just steam the vegetables

WordNet

Steam noun
Etymology
OE. stem, steem, vapor, flame, AS. steám vapor, smoke, odor; akin to D. stoom steam, perhaps originally, a pillar, or something rising like a pillar; cf. Gr. to erect, a pillar, and E. stand.
Definitions
  1. The elastic, aëriform fluid into which water is converted when heated to the boiling points; water in the state of vapor.
  2. The mist formed by condensed vapor; visible vapor; -- so called in popular usage.
  3. Any exhalation. "A steam og rich, distilled perfumes." Milton. ✍ Steam is often used adjectively, and in combination, to denote, produced by heat, or operated by power, derived from steam, in distinction from other sources of power; as in steam boiler or steam-boiler, steam dredger or steam-dredger, steam engine or steam-engine, steam heat, steam plow or steam-plow, etc.
Steam intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Steamed ; present participle & verbal noun Steaming
Definitions
  1. To emit steam or vapor.
    My brother's ghost hangs hovering there, O'er his warm blood, that steams into the air. Dryden.
    Let the crude humors dance In heated brass, steaming with fire intence. J. Philips.
  2. To rise in vapor; to issue, or pass off, as vapor.
    The dissolved amber . . . steamed away into the air. Boyle.
  3. To move or travel by the agency of steam.
    The vessel steamed out of port. N. P. Willis.
  4. To generate steam; as, the boiler steams well.
Steam transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To exhale. Obs. Spenser.
  2. To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing; as, to steam wood; to steamcloth; to steam food, etc.

Webster 1913