(a) invisible gas into which water is changed by boiling 水蒸气; 蒸汽. (b) power obtained using this gas under pressure 加压蒸汽产生的动力: a building heated by steam 有暖气的建筑物 * [attrib 作定语] a steam brake, whistle, winch, etc, ie worked by steam 蒸汽制动器﹑ 汽笛﹑ 汽动绞车 * steam cleaning, ie done by steam 蒸汽洗涤. 
visible mist that forms when steam condenses in the air 水汽: steam coming out of a boiling kettle 水烧开後从壶里冒出来的水汽 * The laundry was full of steam. 洗衣房里水汽腾腾. 
(idm 习语) full speed/steam ahead => full. blow off/let off `steam (infml 口) release surplus energy or emotion from being restrained 宣泄被压抑的过剩精力或情感: The children were out in the playground letting off steam. 那些孩子在操场上玩, 宣泄过剩的精力. get up `steam (a) (of a vehicle or an engine) slowly increase speed （指汽车或发动机）慢慢加速. (b) (infml 口) (of a person) collect one's energy; gradually become excited or angry （指人）打起精神, 渐渐激动或愤怒. ,run out of `steam (infml 口) become exhausted 失去动力; 筋疲力尽: There is a danger of the housing programme running out of steam, ie losing its impetus. 住宅兴建计画有半途而废之虞. ,under one's own `steam without help from others; unaided 靠自己的力量.> steam v
1 [I, Ip] give out steam or vapour 放出蒸汽; 冒水汽: steaming hot coffee 热气腾腾的咖啡 * The kettle was steaming (away) on the stove. 水壶在炉子上冒着热气.
2 [Tn, Cn.a] cook, soften or clean (sth), by the use of steam 用蒸汽处理（某物）; 蒸; 蒸汽软化; 蒸汽洗涤: steamed pudding 蒸的布丁 * Steam the fish for 10 minutes. 把鱼蒸10分钟. * steam open an envelope, ie use steam to soften the glue on the flap 用蒸汽把信封口嘘开. =>Usage at cook 用法见cook.
3 (idm 习语) be/get (all) steamed `up (about/over sth) (infml 口) become very enthusiastic, angry, excited, etc 变得很热心﹑ 愤怒﹑ 激动等: Calm down it's nothing to get steamed up about! 冷静一点--没什麽可激动的!
4 (phr v) steam across, along, away, off, etc move in the specified direction using the power of steam 藉蒸汽动力沿某方向移动: a boat steaming up the Nile 向尼罗河上游行驶的汽船 * The train steamed into/out of the station. 火车驶进[出]了车站. * We were steaming along at 50 mph. 我们靠蒸汽动力以每小时50英里的速度向前行驶. steam sth off (sth) remove (one piece of paper) from another using steam to melt the glue sticking them together 用蒸汽嘘（纸）（使之与黏贴物分开）: steam stamps off envelopes 用蒸汽嘘邮票以便从信封上揭下. steam (sth) up (cause sth to) become covered with condensed steam （使某物）蒙上水汽: The car windows steamed up. 汽车窗户上有一层水汽. steamer n 1 steamship 汽船; 汽艇. 2 metal container with small holes in it, in which food is cooked using steam 蒸锅.
steamy adj (-ier, -iest)
1 of, like or full of steam （似）蒸汽的; 充满水汽的: a steamy jungle 雾气弥漫的丛林.
2 (infml 口) erotic and passionate 色情而狂放的: steamy love scenes 狂放的性爱场面. steaminess n [U].
# `steamboat n boat powered by steam, used (esp formerly) on rivers and along coasts （沿河流或近岸海中行驶的）汽船, 汽艇（尤指旧时用的）.
`steam-engine n locomotive or engine driven by steam 蒸汽机车; 蒸汽机.
`steam iron electric iron that can send out jets of steam from its flat surface 蒸汽电熨斗.
,steam `radio (infml joc 口, 谑) radio broadcasting considered as very old-fashioned by comparison with television 老掉牙的电台广播（与电视相比而言）.
`steamroller n heavy slow-moving engine with a large roller, used in road-making 蒸汽压路机. v 1 [Tn] crush or defeat (sb/sth) as with a steamroller （像用蒸汽压路机一般）压倒（某人）, 碾平或碾碎（某事物）: steamrollering all opposition 压倒一切反对力量.2 (phr v) steamroller sb into sth/doing sth force sb into (a situation or course of action) 迫使某人就范.
`steamship n ship driven by steam 汽船; 汽艇.
`steam-shovel n (esp US) machine for excavating, originally worked by steam 汽铲; （汽动）挖掘机.
`steam train train pulled by a steam-engine 蒸汽机火车: [attrib 作定语] a steam train enthusiast 蒸汽机火车爱好者.