steam

1 noun (U)

1 GAS the hot mist that water produces when it is boiled: Be careful of the steam from the kettle.

2 MIST ON SURFACE the mist that forms on windows, mirrors etc when warm wet air suddenly becomes cold

3 POWER power that is produced by boiling water to make steam, in order to make things work or move: The engines are driven by steam. | steam engine/train etc (=an engine etc that works by the power produced by steam)

4 let off steam to get rid of your anger or excitement in a way that does not harm anyone by doing something active: PE is a good time for the kids to let off steam!

5 run out of steam to no longer have the energy or the desire to continue doing something, especially because you are tired: The home team began to run out of steam in the last quarter.

6 get/pick up steam

a) if an engine gets up steam, it gradually starts to go faster

b) if plans, beliefs etc get up steam, they gradually become more important and more people become interested in them

7 under your own steam if you go somewhere under your own steam, you get there without help from anyone else: I'll get to the restaurant under my own steam.

8 go full steam ahead with to do something with as much energy and eagerness as possible

9 RAILWAY a railway system in which the trains use steam for power: the age of steam

2 verb

1 (I) if something steams, steam rises from it, especially because it is hot: a mug of steaming coffee

2 (T) to cook something in steam: Steam the vegetables lightly.

3 (intransitive always + adv/prep) to travel somewhere in a boat or train that uses steam to produce power

(+ into/from etc): During the next two weeks, we steamed from port to port.

4 be steamed AmE spoken to be very angry

steam sth open/off phrasal verb (T) to use steam to open an envelope or to remove a stamp from an envelope steam up phrasal verb (I, T) to cover or become covered with steam (steam sth up): The warm room steamed up my glasses. —see also: steamed­up