What is "steam"

Steam \Steam\ (st[=e]m), n. [OE. stem, steem, vapor, flame, AS. ste['a]m vapor, smoke, odor; akin to D. stoom steam, perhaps originally, a pillar, or something rising like a pillar; cf. Gr. sty`ein to erect, sty^los a pillar, and E. stand.]

1. The elastic, a["e]riform fluid into which water is converted when heated to the boiling point; water in the state of vapor.

2. The mist formed by condensed vapor; visible vapor; -- so called in popular usage.

3. Any exhalation. ``A steam of rich, distilled perfumes.'' --Milton. Dry steam, steam which does not contain water held in suspension mechanically; -- sometimes applied to superheated steam. Exhaust steam. See under Exhaust. High steam, or High-pressure steam, steam of which the pressure greatly exceeds that of the atmosphere. Low steam, or Low-pressure steam, steam of which the pressure is less than, equal to, or not greatly above, that of the atmosphere. Saturated steam, steam at the temperature of the boiling point which corresponds to its pressure; -- sometimes also applied to wet steam. Superheated steam, steam heated to a temperature higher than the boiling point corresponding to its pressure. It can not exist in contact with water, nor contain water, and resembles a perfect gas; -- called also surcharged steam, anhydrous steam, and steam gas. Wet steam, steam which contains water held in suspension mechanically; -- called also misty steam. Note: Steam is often used adjectively, and in combination, to denote, produced by heat, or operated by power, derived from steam, in distinction from other sources of power; as in steam boiler or steam-boiler, steam dredger or steam-dredger, steam engine or steam-engine, steam heat, steam plow or steam-plow, etc. Steam blower.

   1. A blower for producing a draught consisting of a jet or jets of steam in a chimney or under a fire.

   2. A fan blower driven directly by a steam engine. Steam boiler, a boiler for producing steam. See Boiler, 3, and Note. In the illustration, the shell a of the boiler is partly in section, showing the tubes, or flues, which the hot gases, from the fire beneath the boiler, enter, after traversing the outside of the shell, and through which the gases are led to the smoke pipe d, which delivers them to the chimney; b is the manhole; c the dome; e the steam pipe; f the feed and blow-off pipe; g the safety valve; hthe water gauge. Steam car, a car driven by steam power, or drawn by a locomotive. Steam carriage, a carriage upon wheels moved on common roads by steam. Steam casing. See Steam jacket, under Jacket. Steam chest, the box or chamber from which steam is distributed to the cylinder of a steam engine, steam pump, etc., and which usually contains one or more valves; -- called also valve chest, and valve box. See Illust. of Slide valve, under Slide. Steam chimney, an annular chamber around the chimney of a boiler furnace, for drying steam. Steam coil, a coil of pipe, or a collection of connected pipes, for containing steam; -- used for heating, drying, etc. Steam colors (Calico Printing), colors in which the chemical reaction fixing the coloring matter in the fiber is produced by steam. Steam cylinder, the cylinder of a steam engine, which contains the piston. See Illust. of Slide valve, under Slide. Steam dome (Steam Boilers), a chamber upon the top of the boiler, from which steam is conducted to the engine. See Illust. of Steam boiler, above. Steam fire engine, a fire engine consisting of a steam boiler and engine, and pump which is driven by the engine, combined and mounted on wheels. It is usually drawn by horses, but is sometimes made self-propelling. Steam fitter, a fitter of steam pipes. Steam fitting, the act or the occupation of a steam fitter; also, a pipe fitting for steam pipes. Steam gas. See Superheated steam, above. Steam gauge, an instrument for indicating the pressure of the steam in a boiler. The mercurial steam gauge is a bent tube partially filled with mercury, one end of which is connected with the boiler while the other is open to the air, so that the steam by its pressure raises the mercury in the long limb of the tube to a height proportioned to that pressure. A more common form, especially for high pressures, consists of a spring pressed upon by the steam, and connected with the pointer of a dial. The spring may be a flattened, bent tube, closed at one end, which the entering steam tends to straighten, or it may be a diaphragm of elastic metal, or a mass of confined air, etc. Steam gun, a machine or contrivance from which projectiles may be thrown by the elastic force of steam. Steam hammer, a hammer for forging, which is worked directly by steam; especially, a hammer which is guided vertically and operated by a vertical steam cylinder located directly over an anvil. In the variety known as Nasmyth's, the cylinder is fixed, and the hammer is attached to the piston rod. In that known as Condie's, the piston is fixed, and the hammer attached to the lower end of the cylinder. Steam heater.

      1. A radiator heated by steam.

      2. An apparatus consisting of a steam boiler, radiator, piping, and fixures for warming a house by steam.

         Steam jacket. See under Jacket.

         Steam packet, a packet or vessel propelled by steam, and running periodically between certain ports.

         Steam pipe, any pipe for conveying steam; specifically, a pipe through which steam is supplied to an engine.

         Steam plow or Steam plough, a plow, or gang of plows, moved by a steam engine.

         Steam port, an opening for steam to pass through, as from the steam chest into the cylinder.

         Steam power, the force or energy of steam applied to produce results; power derived from a steam engine.

         Steam propeller. See Propeller.

         Steam pump, a small pumping engine operated by steam. It is usually direct-acting.

         Steam room (Steam Boilers), the space in the boiler above the water level, and in the dome, which contains steam.

         Steam table, a table on which are dishes heated by steam for keeping food warm in the carving room of a hotel, restaurant, etc.

         Steam trap, a self-acting device by means of which water that accumulates in a pipe or vessel containing steam will be discharged without permitting steam to escape.

         Steam tug, a steam vessel used in towing or propelling ships.

         Steam vessel, a vessel propelled by steam; a steamboat or steamship; a steamer.

         Steam whistle, an apparatus attached to a steam boiler, as of a locomotive, through which steam is rapidly discharged, producing a loud whistle which serves as a warning or a signal. The steam issues from a narrow annular orifice around the upper edge of the lower cup or hemisphere, striking the thin edge of the bell above it, and producing sound in the manner of an organ pipe or a common whistle.

Steam \Steam\ (st[=e]m), v. t.

1. To exhale. [Obs.]
   --Spenser.

2. To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing; as, to steam wood; to steamcloth; to steam food, etc.

Steam \Steam\ (st[=e]m), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Steamed (st[=e]md); p. pr. & vb. n. Steaming.]

1. To emit steam or vapor.

   My brother's ghost hangs hovering there, O'er his warm blood, that steams into the air.
   --Dryden.

   Let the crude humors dance In heated brass, steaming with fire intense.
   --J. Philips.

2. To rise in vapor; to issue, or pass off, as vapor.

   The dissolved amber . . . steamed away into the air.
   --Boyle.

3. To move or travel by the agency of steam.

   The vessel steamed out of port.
   --N. P. Willis.

4. To generate steam; as, the boiler steams well.

Old English steam "vapor, fume, water in a gaseous state," from Proto-Germanic *staumaz (cognates: Dutch stoom "steam"), of unknown origin. Meaning "vapor of boiling water used to drive an engine" is from 1690s, hence steam age (1828) and many figurative uses, such as let off steam (1831, literal), blow off steam (1857, figurative), full-steam (1878), get up steam (1887, figurative). Steam heat is from 1820s in thermodynamics; as a method of temperature control from 1904.\n\nWe have given her six months to consider the matter, and in this steam age of the world, no woman ought to require a longer time to make up her mind.

[Sarah Josepha Hale, "Sketches of American Character," 1828]

Old English stiemen, stymen "emit vapor, emit a scent or odor," from the root of steam (n.). Meaning "go by steam power" is from 183

1. Transitive sense from 1660s, "to emit as steam;" meaning "to treat with steam" is from 1798. Slang steam up (transitive) "make (someone) angry" is from 192

2. Related: Steamed; steaming.

1. Old-fashioned; from before the digital age. n. 1 The vapor formed when water changes from liquid phase to gas phase. 2 pressurized water vapour used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical energy. 3 (context figuratively English) Internal energy for motive power. 4 (context figuratively English) pent-up anger. 5 A steam-powered vehicle. 6 Travel by means of a steam-powered vehicle. 7 (context obsolete English) Any exhalation. v

2. 1 (context cooking transitive English) To cook with steam. 2 (context transitive English) To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing. 3 (context intransitive English) To produce or vent steam. 4 (context intransitive English) To rise in vapour; to issue, or pass off, as vapour. 5 (context intransitive figuratively English) To become angry; to fume; to be incensed. 6 (context transitive figuratively English) To make angry. 7 (context intransitive English) To be covered with condensed water vapor. 8 (context intransitive English) To travel by means of steam power. 9 (context figuratively or literally English) To move with great or excessive purposefulness.

1. v. travel by means of steam power; "The ship steamed off into the Pacific"

2. emit steam; "The rain forest was literally steaming"

3. rise as vapor

4. get very angry; "her indifference to his amorous advances really steamed the young man"

5. clean by means of steaming; "steam-clean the upholstered sofa" [syn: steam clean]

6. cook something by letting steam pass over it; "just steam the vegetables"

n. water at boiling temperature diffused in the atmosphere

Steam was a pop-rock music group best known for the 1969 number one hit song " Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." The song was written and recorded by studio musicians Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer, and producer/writer Paul Leka at Mercury Records studios in New York City. The single was attributed to the band "Steam" although at the time there was actually no band with that name. Paul Leka and the studio group recorded the first album.

Steam is vaporized water.

Steam may also refer to:

Steam is the fourth studio album recorded by country music artist Ty Herndon. It features the singles "Steam", "No Mercy", and "A Love Like That", all of which entered the Billboard country music charts; "You Can Leave Your Hat On" also entered the charts from unsolicited airplay. This album was less successful than its predecessors as far as the peak positions of its chart singles. The highest-peaking, which was the title track, reached number 18, while "No Mercy" peaked at number 26. "A Love Like That" peaked at number 58, becoming the second single of Herndon's career to miss the Top 40.

Steam is the second studio album by English boy band East 17. It was released in the UK on 13 October 1994 by London Records. The album was certified as 2x Platinum in the UK.

The US version of the album features the three Top 10 hits from their first album ("House of Love", "Deep", "It's Alright"), plus four new Top 10 hits, "Around the World" (#3), "Steam" (#7), "Let It Rain" (#10) and the Christmas No. 1 "Stay Another Day".

Steam is a 2007 film written and directed by Kyle Schickner and produced by FenceSitter Films. It stars Ruby Dee, Ally Sheedy and Kate Siegel.

Steam is a live album by jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp recorded at the East-West Jazz Festival in Nurnberg, West Germany on May 14, 1976 and released on the Enja label.

"Steam" is a song written by Lewis Anderson and Bob Regan, and recorded by American country music artist Ty Herndon. It was released in August 1999 as the lead single and title track from his album Steam. The song reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 19 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

Steam is a digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation offering digital rights management (DRM), multiplayer gaming and social networking services. Steam provides the user with installation and automatic updating of games on multiple computers, and community features such as friends lists and groups, cloud saving, and in-game voice and chat functionality. The software provides a freely available application programming interface (API) called Steamworks, which developers can use to integrate many of Steam's functions into their products, including networking, matchmaking, in-game achievements, micro-transactions, and support for user-created content through Steam Workshop.

Though initially developed for use on Microsoft Windows, versions for OS X and Linux operating systems were later released. Applications whose main functions are chatting and shopping have also been released for iOS, Android and Windows Phone mobile devices. The Steam website also replicates much of the storefront and social network features of the stand-alone application.

, there are 6,464 Windows games, 2,323 OS X games, and 1,500 Linux games available on Steam. The service has over 125 million registered accounts. Steam has had as many as 12.5 million concurrent users . The Steam platform is considered to be the largest digital distribution platform for PC gaming; in November 2009, Stardock estimated it at 70% and then later, in October 2013, it was estimated by Screen Digest that 75% of games bought online were downloaded through Steam. In 2015, users purchased titles through Steam or through Steam keys from third-party vendors totaling around $3.5 billion representing 15% of the global PC game sales for the year, based on estimations made by the tracking website Steam Spy. The success of the Steam platform has led to the development of a line of Steam Machine micro-consoles and personal computers meeting minimum specifications, and SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system built around the Steam Client Server.

"Steam" is the second single from English rock musician Peter Gabriel's 1992 album Us. It reached number 10 on the UK singles chart, #32 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Peter Gabriel has said that the song is about a relationship in which the woman is sophisticated, bright, cultured, and knows everything about anything and that the man knows nothing about anything, except, he does know about the woman, and she doesn't know much about herself.

An alternate version of this song called "Quiet Steam" was a B-side on the " Digging in the Dirt" single. It is a very lo-fi take on the popular version that appeared on the album. On Secret World Live, "Steam" is preceded for a minute or so by the "Quiet Steam" version.

Steam is water in the gas phase, which is formed when water boils. Steam is invisible; however, "steam" often refers to wet steam, the visible mist or aerosol of water droplets formed as this water vapor condenses. At lower pressures, such as in the upper atmosphere or at the top of high mountains, water boils at a lower temperature than the nominal at standard temperature and pressure. If heated further it becomes superheated steam.

The enthalpy of vaporization is the energy required to turn water into the gaseous form when it increases in volume by 1,700 times at standard temperature and pressure; this change in volume can be converted into mechanical work by steam engines such as reciprocating piston type engines and steam turbines, which are a sub-group of steam engines. Piston type steam engines played a central role to the Industrial Revolution and modern steam turbines are used to generate more than 80% of the world's electricity. If liquid water comes in contact with a very hot surface or depressurizes quickly below its vapor pressure, it can create a steam explosion. Steam explosions have been responsible for many foundry accidents, and may also have been responsible for much of the damage to the plant in the Chernobyl disaster.