steam

steam
noun

[mass noun]the vapour into which water is converted when heated, forming a white mist of minute water droplets in the air
蒸汽，水蒸气
■the invisible gaseous form of water, formed by boiling, from which this vapour condenses
水汽，气雾
■the expansive force of this vapour used as a source of power for machines
蒸气膨胀力，汽力
the equipment was originally powered by steam.
那设备最初是由蒸气来驱动的。
[as modifier]a steam train.
蒸汽驱动的火车。
■locomotives and railway systems powered in this way
蒸汽机车
we were trainspotters in the last years of steam.
在蒸汽机车最后的几年中我们是蒸汽机车号码的搜集者。
■(figurative)energy and momentum or impetus
(喻)力量，动力；推动力
the anti-corruption drive gathered steam.
反腐败运动的力量越来越大。

verb

[no obj.]give off or produce steam
冒出蒸汽；产生蒸汽
a mug of coffee was steaming at her elbow.
她肘边的一大杯咖啡冒着热气。
■(steam up 或 steam something up)become or cause to become covered or misted over with steam
（使）蒙上水汽
[no obj.]the glass keeps steaming up.
那玻璃上一直蒙着水汽。
[with obj.]the warm air had begun to steam up the windows.
那热气开始使窗户蒙上水汽。
■(常作 be/get steamed up)(informal)be or become extremely agitated or angry
(非正式)生气，发怒
you got all steamed up over nothing!.
你无缘无故就大发脾气。
after steaming behind the closed door in his office, he came out and screamed at her.
在办公室关着的门后发了一通脾气后，他走出来朝她大声叫喊。
[with obj.]cook (food) by heating it in steam from boiling water
蒸煮
steam the vegetables until just tender.
把那些蔬菜蒸到刚好软就好。
■[no obj.](of food) cook in this way
（食物）蒸
add the mussels and leave them to steam.
把贻贝放进去让他们蒸一下。
■clean or otherwise treat with steam
蒸汽洗涤；蒸汽处理
he steamed his shirts in the bathroom to remove the odour.
他在浴室里用蒸汽蒸一下衬衫以去除异味。
■[with obj. and complement or adverbial]apply steam to (something fixed with adhesive) so as to open or loosen it
蒸汽软化（粘贴物）以打开（或松开）
he'd steamed the letter open and then resealed it.
他用蒸汽拆开信封，然后又封了起来。
■generate steam in and operate (a steam locomotive)
用蒸汽开动（机车）
[no obj., with adverbial of direction](of a ship or train) travel somewhere under steam power
（轮船，火车）靠蒸汽动力行驶
the 11.54 steamed into the station.
11.54号蒸汽机车进站。
■(informal)come, go, or move somewhere rapidly or in a forceful way
(非正式)匆匆（或奋力）来（去，移动）
Jeremy steamed in ten minutes late.
杰里米匆匆赶来但还是迟到了十分钟。
the company has steamed ahead with its investment programme.
那公司全力推进其投资计划。
■[no obj.](steam in)(Brit. informal)start or join a fight
(英，非正式)开始战斗；投入战斗
■[no obj.][often as noun steaming](informal)(of a gang of thieves) move rapidly through a public place, stealing things or robbing people on the way
(非正式)（一群贼）（在匆忙通过公共场所时）顺路盗窃（或抢劫）

常用词组
get up (或 pick up) steam

generate enough pressure to drive a steam engine
开足蒸汽驱动发动机
(of a project in its early stages) gradually gain more impetus and driving force
（计划的早期）逐渐获得驱动力
his campaign steadily picked up steam.
他的竞选活动稳步地获得越来越多的动力。

have steam coming out of one's ears

(informal)be extremely angry or irritated
(非正式)大发雷霆，非常恼怒

in steam

(of a steam locomotive) ready for work, with steam in the boiler
（蒸汽机车）准备工作，准备发动，一切就绪

let (或 blow) off steam

(informal)(of a person) get rid of pent-up energy or strong emotion
(非正式)发泄被压抑的感情；泄怒

run out of (或 lose) steam

(informal)lose impetus or enthusiasm
(非正式)失去动力；失去热情
a rebellion that had run out of steam.
没了劲的反叛。

under one's own steam

(with reference to travel) without assistance from others
（旅行）靠自己的力量
we're going to have to get there under our own steam.
我们必须靠自己的力量到达那里。

under steam

(of a machine) being operated by steam
（机器）靠蒸气运行

语源

Old English stēam 'vapour', stēman 'emit a scent, be exhaled', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stoom 'steam'

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