steam

steam

I

steam¹ W3 /stiːm/ noun [uncountable]1.  GAS the hot mist that water produces when it is boiled:
    Steam rose from the hot tub.
2.  MIST ON SURFACE the mist that forms on windows, mirrors etc when warm wet air suddenly becomes cold
3.  POWER power that is produced by boiling water to make steam, in order to make things work or move:
    The engines are driven by steam.
    steam engine/train/hammer etc (=an engine etc that works by steam power)
4. let/blow off steam to get rid of your anger, excitement, or energy in a way that does not harm anyone by doing something active
5. get/pick/build up steam (also gather/gain steam)
  a. if an engine picks up steam, it gradually starts to go faster
  b. if plans, beliefs etc pick up steam, they gradually become more important and more people become interested in them:
    The election campaign is picking up steam.
6. run out of steam (also lose steam) to no longer have the energy or the desire to continue doing something, especially because you are tired:
    I usually just let her yell until she runs out of steam.
7. under your own steam if you go somewhere under your own steam, you get there without help from anyone else:
    I’ll get to the restaurant under my own steam.
8.  RAILWAY a railway system in which the trains use steam for power:
    the age of steam
⇨ full steam ahead at full¹(18)

II

steam² verb1. [intransitive] if something steams, steam rises from it, especially because it is hot:
    A pot was steaming on top of the cooker.
2. [transitive] to cook something in steam ⇨ boil:
    Steam the vegetables lightly.
    steamed broccoli
3. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to travel somewhere in a boat or train that uses steam to produce power
    steam into/from etc
    We steamed from port to port.
4. [intransitive] especially British English to go somewhere very quickly
    steam in/down
    Geoff steamed in, ten minutes late.
5. be steaming (mad) (also be steamed (up)) American English spoken to be very angry
     
steam ahead phrasal verb
  to start doing something very quickly:
    The company is steaming ahead with its investment programme.
steam something ↔ open/off phrasal verb
  to use steam to open an envelope or to remove a stamp from an envelope
steam up phrasal verb
  to cover something with steam, or to become covered with steam:
    My glasses are all steamed up.
    steam something ↔ up
    A pan was boiling on the stove, steaming up the windows.
  ⇨ steamed-up
     

THESAURUS

■ ways of cooking something
   ▪ bake to cook things such as bread or cakes in an oven: Tom baked a cake for my birthday.
   ▪ roast to cook meat or vegetables in an oven: Roast the potatoes for an hour.
   ▪ fry to cook food in hot oil: She was frying some mushrooms.
   ▪ stir-fry to fry small pieces of food while moving them around continuously: stir-fried tofu and bean sprouts
   ▪ sauté /ˈsəʊteɪ $ soʊˈteɪ/ to fry vegetables for a short time in a small amount of butter or oil: Sauté the potatoes in butter.
   ▪ grill to cook food over or under strong heat: grilled fish
   ▪ broil American English to cook food under heat: broiled fish
   ▪ boil to cook something in very hot water: He doesn’t even know how to boil an egg. | English people seem to love boiled vegetables.
   ▪ steam to cook vegetables over hot water: Steam the rice for 15 minutes.
   ▪ poach to cook food, especially fish or eggs, slowly in hot water: poached salmon
   ▪ toast to cook the outside surfaces of bread: toasted muffins
   ▪ barbecue to cook food on a metal frame over a fire outdoors: I thought we could barbecue some mackerel.
   ▪ microwave to cook food in a microwave oven: The beans can be microwaved.