Steam | Mean of steam in English Dictionary

/ˈstiːm/

• Noun
• the hot gas that is created when water is boiled
1. Careful, the steam from the pot is hot.
• steam that is created by a machine and kept under pressure to provide power
1. Steam drives the turbines.
2. a steam-powered engine
3. The boat runs on steam.
4. a steam engine/train
• very small drops of water that form on a surface when warm air that contains a lot of water is cooled down
1. He wiped the steam from the mirrors.

• the strength, force, or energy that allows something or someone to continue, to go faster, etc.
1. Sales have lost steam [=have slowed down] in recent weeks.
2. The campaign quickly gained/gathered steam. [=became more popular and successful]
3. He was afraid he would run out of steam before the end of the race.
4. I was making good progress this morning, but now I'm starting to run out of steam.
5. The project is slowly picking up steam. [=slowly beginning to move ahead in a faster and more effective way]
• to calm down and get rid of energy or anger by doing something active
1. I play racquetball every evening just to let off some steam.
2. Tell him to go blow off some steam and then we can talk.
• by using its own power
1. The ship was damaged but was able to return to port under its own steam.
2. He got there under his own steam. [=by himself; by his own efforts]
• Verb
• to produce steam
1. a steaming bowl of soup
• to cook, heat, or treat (something) with steam
1. She prefers to steam carrots rather than boil them.
2. steamed vegetables
• to cause (something, such as a piece of glass) to become covered with small drops of water
1. Their breath steamed the windows.
2. Try not to steam up your glasses.
3. The windows were all steamed up.
4. My glasses steamed up [=fogged up] when I came indoors from the cold.
• to move by using power produced by steam
1. The ship steamed into port.
2. We steamed up the river. [=we went up the river on a ship powered by steam]
• to move forward in a quick and forceful way
1. He steamed into the room and began shouting orders.
2. Our plans are steaming ahead.