steam

Definition

The hot gaseous form of water, formed when water changes from the liquid phase to the gas phase (at or above its boiling point temperature).

Etymology

From Middle English steem, stem, from Old English stēam (“steam, hot exhalation, hot breath; that which emits vapour; blood”), from Proto-Germanic *staumaz (“steam, vapour, breath”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“to whirl, waft, stink, shake; steam, haze, smoke”). Cognate with Scots stem, steam (“steam”), West Frisian steam (“steam, vapour”), Dutch stoom (“steam, vapour”), Low German stom (“steam”), Swedish dialectal stimma (“steam, fog”), Latin fūmus (“smoke, steam”).

Example Sentences

• "Give the carrots a ten-minute steam."
• "After three weeks in bed he was finally able to sit up under his own steam."
• "Them that puts the most steam into it will get a finnuf slipped to 'em."