- steam
- [[t]sti͟ːm[/t]]
♦♦♦steams, steaming, steamed1) N-UNCOUNT Steam is the hot mist that forms when water boils. Steam vehicles and machines are operated using steam as a means of power.
In an electric power plant the heat converts water into high-pressure steam...
The invention of the steam engine changed ships, just as it had changed land transport.
2) VERB If something steams, it gives off steam....restaurants where coffee pots steamed on their burners.
[V-ing] ...a basket of steaming bread rolls.
3) V-ERG If you steam food or if it steams, you cook it in steam rather than in water.[V n] Steam the carrots until they are just beginning to be tender...
Leave the vegetables to steam over the rice for the 20 minutes cooking time.
[V-ed] ...steamed clams and broiled chicken.
4) PHRASE: v PHR If something such as a plan or a project goes full steam ahead, it progresses quickly.The Government was determined to go full steam ahead with its privatisation programme...
Plans are rolling full steam ahead for the Jamaica Festival.
5) PHRASE: V inflects If you let off steam, you get rid of your energy, anger, or strong emotions with physical activity or by behaving in a noisy or violent way. [INFORMAL]Regular exercise helps to combat unwanted stress and is a good way of relaxing or letting off steam.
6) PHRASE: V inflects If a belief, a plan, or a project picks up steam, it starts to develop and become more important.Just as the presidential campaign was picking up steam, riots exploded in Los Angeles.
Syn:get going7) PHRASE: V inflects If you run out of steam, you stop doing something because you have no more energy or enthusiasm left. [INFORMAL]I decided to paint the bathroom ceiling but ran out of steam halfway through.
8) PHRASE: PHR after v If you do something under your own steam, you do it without any help from anyone else.Patients who are well enough to turn up under their own steam are well enough to wait to be seen by a doctor.
Phrasal Verbs:- steam up
English dictionary. 2008.
