steam

UK: /ˈstiːm/ US: /stim/ ,(stēm)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

steam /stim/   n. [uncountable]

1. Physics water in the form of an invisible gas or vapor:
   Steam is used for heating purposes.
2. the mist formed when the vapor from boiling water condenses in the air.
3. Informal Terms power or energy:
   The damaged frigate limped into port under its own steam.

v. 

4. to give off steam or vapor:
   [no object] pipes steaming in the cold air.
5. to (cause to) become covered with condensed steam, as a car window: [no object; (~ + up)]
   To prevent the window from steaming (up), use the defroster.
   [~ + up + object]
   His hot breath steamed up the window.
   [~ + object + up]
   to steam it up.
6. Transport to move or travel by the power of steam: [no object]
   The ship steamed out to sea.
   [~ + object]
   The captain steamed the ship out to sea.
7. to expose to or treat with steam, in order to heat, cook, etc.:
   [~ + object] to steam the vegetables.
8. Slang Terms to (cause to) become angry:
   [~ + object (+ up)] He got pretty steamed (up) about the sales figures.

adj. [before a noun]

9. using or operated by steam:
   a steam radiator.

Idioms

10. Informal Terms, Idioms blow or let off steam, to let out emotion or energy kept in or contained, esp. by talking or by acting wildly:
    She's been studying all night, and now she wants to let off some steam.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

steam (stēm),  n. 

1. Physics water in the form of an invisible gas or vapor.
2. Physics water changed to this form by boiling, extensively used for the generation of mechanical power, for heating purposes, etc.
3. the mist formed when the gas or vapor from boiling water condenses in the air.
4. an exhalation of a vapor or mist.
5. Informal Terms power or energy.
6. Informal Terms, Idioms blow off or let off steam, to give vent to one's repressed emotions, esp. by talking or behaving in an unrestrained manner:
   Don't take her remarks too seriously—she was just blowing off steam.

v.i. 

7. to emit or give off steam or vapor.
8. to rise or pass off in the form of steam or vapor.
9. to become covered with condensed steam, as a window or other surface (often fol. by up).
10. to generate or produce steam, as in a boiler.
11. Transport to move or travel by the agency of steam.
12. to move rapidly or evenly:
    He steamed out of the room.
13. Informal Terms to be angry or show anger.

v.t. 

14. to expose to or treat with steam, as in order to heat, cook, soften, renovate, or the like.
15. to emit or exhale (steam or vapor).
16. Slang Terms to cause to become irked or angry (often fol. by up).
17. Transport to convey by the agency of steam:
    to steam the ship safely into port.

adj. 

18. heated by or heating with steam:
    a steam radiator.
19. Transport propelled by or propelling with a steam engine.
20. operated by steam.
21. conducting steam:
    a steam line.
22. bathed with or affected by steam.
23. of or pertaining to steam.

• bef. 1000; Middle English steme, Old English stēam; cognate with Dutch stoom

steam′less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

steam / stiːm/ noun

1. the gas or vapour into which water is changed when boiled
2. the mist formed when such gas or vapour condenses in the atmosphere
3. any vaporous exhalation
4. power, energy, or speed
5. get up steam ⇒ (of a ship, etc) to work up a sufficient head of steam in a boiler to drive an engine
6. to go quickly
7. let off steam ⇒ to release pent-up energy or emotions
8. under one's own steam ⇒ without the assistance of others
9. (modifier) driven, operated, heated, powered, etc, by steam: a steam radiator
10. (modifier) treated by steam: steam ironed, steam cleaning
11. (modifier) old-fashioned; outmoded: steam radio

verb

1. to emit or be emitted as steam
2. (intransitive) to generate steam, as a boiler, etc
3. (intransitive) to move or travel by steam power, as a ship, etc
4. (intransitive) to proceed quickly and sometimes forcefully
5. to cook or be cooked in steam
6. (transitive) to treat with steam or apply steam to, as in cleaning, pressing clothes, etc

Etymology: Old English; related to Dutch stoom steam, perhaps to Old High German stioban to raise dust, Gothic stubjus dust