steam
noun [ U ] uk/stiːm/ us/stiːm/
B2 蒸汽，水蒸气
the hot gas that is produced when water boils
Steam rose from the simmering stew. 炖着的肉咕嘟咕嘟冒着热气。
steam turbines 蒸汽涡轮机
a steam engine/locomotive 蒸汽发动机／机车
the age of steam (= the period when steam provided power for railways and factories) 蒸汽时代
The pump is driven by steam. 这个泵是由蒸汽驱动的。
- More examples
- If water is heated to 100°C it turns to steam.
- The steam from the kettle misted up her glasses.
- The horses came to a halt, steam streaming from their nostrils.
- The shower room was full of steam.
- My new wallpaper stripper uses high-pressure steam to lift off the paper.
Idioms
run out of steamidiom 忽然失去动力;顿时泄气;突然没了兴趣
to suddenly lose the energy or interest to continue doing what you are doing
The peace talks seem to have run out of steam. 和谈好像突然失去了动力。
get/pick up steamidiom 加速;加大马力
to start working much more effectively
After the first three months, the fundraising project really started to pick up steam. 最初的3个月后，筹款活动开始变得如火如荼。
let/blow off steamidiom C2 发泄怒气;宣泄感情;释放精力
to do or say something that helps you to get rid of strong feelings or energy
He lifts weights after work to let off steam. 他下班后练举重来宣泄精力。
under your own steamidiom 靠自己的力量；独力
If you do something under your own steam, you do it without help.
Do you want a lift or will you get there under your own steam? 你要不要搭个便车，还是你自己去？
steam
verb uk/stiːm/ us/stiːm/
[ I ]依靠蒸汽动力行驶
to move by steam power
The train/ship steamed out of the station/harbour. 火车／汽船喷着蒸汽驶出了车站／港口。
[ T ]蒸（食物）
to cook food using steam
steamed vegetables 蒸蔬菜
[ T usually + adv/prep ]用蒸汽软化（尤指胶水）
to use steam to make something softer, especially glue so that something can be removed
Ross steamed open the envelope to see if it was a love letter. 罗斯用蒸汽软化胶水打开信封，想看看是不是情书。
Phrasal verb
steam (something) up （使）蒙上水汽
If glass or something with a glass or similar surface steams up, it becomes covered with a thin layer of water caused by steam touching it, and if you steam it up, you cause this to happen.
The bathroom mirror steamed up during my shower. 我淋浴的时候，浴室的镜子蒙上了水汽。
Going into the warm room steamed my glasses up. 走进暖和的房间，我的眼镜蒙上了一层水雾。