sti:m n. & v. --n. 1 a
the gas into which water is changed by
boiling, used as a
source of
power by
virtue of
its expansion of
volume. b a
mist of
liquid particles of water produced by the
condensation of
this gas. 2
any similar vapour. 3 a
energy or power
provided by a steam
engine or
other machine. b colloq. power or energy
generally. --v. 1 tr. a
cook (food) in steam. b
soften or
make pliable (timber etc.) or
otherwise treat with steam. 2 intr.
give off steam or other vapour,
esp. visibly. 3 intr. a
move under steam power (the
ship steamed down the river). b (foll. by
ahead,
away, etc.) colloq.
proceed or
travel fast or with
vigour. 4 tr. & intr. (usu. foll. by up) a
cover or
become covered with condensed steam. b (as steamed up adj.) colloq.
angry or excited. 5 tr. (foll. by
open etc.)
apply steam to the gum of (a sealed envelope) to
get it open. øget up steam 1
generate enough power to
work a steam engine. 2 work
oneself into an
energetic or angry
state. let off steam
relieve one's
pent up feelings or energy.
run out of steam
lose one's
impetus or energy. steam
age the
era when trains
were drawn by steam locomotives. steam
bath a
room etc. filled with steam
for bathing
in. steam
boiler a
vessel (in a steam engine etc.) in which water is boiled to generate steam. steam engine 1 an engine which uses the expansion or
rapid condensation of steam to generate power. 2 a
locomotive powered by this. steam
gauge a
pressure gauge attached to a steam boiler. steam
hammer a forging-hammer powered by steam. steam-heat the warmth
given out by steam-heated radiators etc. steam
iron an
electric iron
that emits steam
from its flat
surface, to
improve its
pressing ability. steam-jacket a
casing for steam
round a
cylinder, for
heating its contents. steam
organ a
fairground pipe-organ
driven by a steam engine
and played by
means of a
keyboard or a
system of punched cards. steam power the force of steam
applied to
machinery etc. steam
shovel an excavator powered by steam. steam-tight
impervious to steam. steam
train a train driven by a steam engine. steam
tug a
steamer for towing ships etc. steam
turbine a turbine in which a high-velocity jet of steam rotates a bladed
disc or drum. under one's
own steam
without assistance;
unaided. [OE steam f. Gmc]
