Collins English-English Dictionary

steam [stiːm]

1. 1. n the gas or vapour into which water is changed when boiled

2. 2. n the mist formed when such gas or vapour condenses in the atmosphere

3. 3. n any vaporous exhalation

4. 4. n [informal] power, energy, or speed

5. 5. n [Austral] [slang] cheap wine

6. 6. n [modifier] driven, operated, heated, powered, etc, by steam

   a steam radiator

7. 7. n [modifier] treated by steam

   steam ironed

   steam cleaning

8. 8. n [modifier] [humorous] old-fashioned; outmoded

   steam radio

9. 9. vb to emit or be emitted as steam

10. 10. vi. [intr] to generate steam, as a boiler, etc

11. 11. vi. [intr] to move or travel by steam power, as a ship, etc

12. 12. vi. [intr] [informal] to proceed quickly and sometimes forcefully

13. 13. vi. to cook or be cooked in steam

14. 14. vt. [tr] to treat with steam or apply steam to, as in cleaning, pressing clothes, etc

15. 15. vt. See also steam up

16. 16. vt. [Etymology] Old English; related to Dutch stoom steam, perhaps to Old High German stioban to raise dust, Gothic stubjus dust