Steam

stēm, n. the vapour of water—when dry, invisible and transparent like air, and not to be confused with the semi-liquid cloud which comes from the chimney of a locomotive; when superheated, changing the characteristics of a vapour for those belonging to what is known as a 'perfect gas:' the mist formed by condensed vapour: any vaporous exhalation: energy, force, spirit.— v.i. to rise or pa off in steam or vapour: to move by steam.— v.t. to expose to steam.— ns. Steam′boat , Steam′ship , Steam′-ve ′el , a boat, ship, or ve el propelled by steam; Steam′-boil′er , a boiler for generating steam; Steam′-carriage , a carriage moved by steam on common roads; Steam′-chest , -dome , a chamber above a steam-boiler serving as a reservoir for steam; Steam′-crane , a crane worked by a steam-engine; Steam′-dig′ger , a machine for digging the soil by means of steam-power, the soil being thereby much more thoroughly pulverised than by ploughing; Steam′-en′gine , an engine or machine which changes heat into useful work through the medium of steam; Steam′er , a ve el moved by steam: a road-locomotive, .: a ve el in which articles are steamed; Steam′-gauge , an instrument for measuring the pre ure of steam in a boiler; Steam′-gov′ern or , the governor of a steam-engine; Steam′-gun , a gun projecting a mi ile by means of steam; Steam′-hamm′er , a hammer consisting of a steam cylinder and piston placed vertically over an anvil, the hammer moved by the action of the steam; Steam′ine , the quality of being vaporous or misty; Steam′-jack′et , a hollow casing surrounding any ve el and into which steam may be admitted; Steam′-launch (see Launch ); Steam′-navigā′tion , the propulsion of ve els by steam; Steam′-nav′vy , an excavator operated by steam in the making of docks, canals, .; Steam′-pack′et , a steam-ve el plying between certain ports; Steam′-pipe , a pipe for conveying steam; Steam′-plough , a plough or gang of ploughs worked by a steam-engine; Steam′-pow′er , the force of steam when applied to machinery; Steam′-pre , a printing-pre worked by steam; Steam′-print′ing , printing in which the pre es are operated by steam; Steam′-trap , a contrivance for allowing the pa age of water while preventing the pa age of steam; Steam′-tug , a small steam-ve el used in towing ships; Steam′-whis′tle , an apparatus attached to a steam-engine through which steam is discharged, producing a sound in the manner of a common whistle.— adj. Steam′y , consisting of, or like, steam: full of steam or vapour.— n. Steam′-yacht , a yacht propelled by steam. [A.S. steám ; cog. with Dut. stoom .]