steam

steam1 [ stim ] noun uncount **

1. ) the hot wet substance like a thin cloud that is produced when water is heated:

The steam from the volcano rose 3,000 meters into the air.

a steam bath

a ) the wet substance that forms on windows and mirrors when wet air suddenly becomes hot or cold:

Tom rubbed the steam from the window and peered outside.

2. ) power that is created when water is heated:

The equipment was originally powered by steam.

the age of steam (=when engines were powered by steam)

a ) only before noun operated by steam:

a steam engine/locomotive/

(at) full steam

at the maximum level:

Before I start working again full steam, I want to travel.

full steam ahead

making a lot of progress:

The movie is set to go full steam ahead.

have steam coming out of your ears

to be very angry about something

let off/blow off steam

to express your feelings of anger or excitement without harming anyone:

The meeting will be a chance for protesters to let off steam.

pick up/build up/gather steam

to become more active, important, or full of energy:

It looks like the economy is picking up steam again.

run out of/lose steam

to lose energy, enthusiasm, or importance:

David seems to be running out of steam.

under your own steam

without the help of anyone else:

Can you make it under your own steam, or will you need a lift?

=> HEAD1

steam

steam 2 [ stim ] verb *

1. ) intransitive to produce steam:

Great pots of food were steaming on the stove.

a ) if someone steams, they feel very hot:

a record hot day when air conditioners groaned and customers steamed

2. ) intransitive or transitive to cook food with steam:

Steam the vegetables for about ten minutes.

steamed fish

3. ) intransitive to move using steam power:

The train steamed noisily out of the station.

a ) if a person steams somewhere, they move quickly in a particular direction:

McKiernan steamed ahead to win her third race in a row.

b ) if a ship steams somewhere, it travels there:

The luxury liner steamed into New York on Thursday.

=> STEAMING

,steam `up phrasal verb intransitive or transitive

to cover something with steam or become covered with steam:

My glasses kept steaming up.

,steam `open phrasal verb transitive

to use steam to separate two edges or pieces of paper that are stuck together:

Someone has steamed open the envelope.