n (1)水(蒸)气(gas or vapour produced by boiling water or liquid)[U]：S～rose from the plate of soup. 汤盘冒着热气。A cloud of～rose from the kettle. 水壶冒着腾腾蒸汽。A sauna is a type of～bath. 桑拿是一种蒸汽浴。

(2)水汽(雾)(mist that forms when hot water，vapour cools and condenses into tiny droplets in the air)[U]：S～forms on the inside of the bathroom windows. 水汽凝结在浴室玻璃窗的里侧。(laundry) be full of～(洗衣房)充满雾汽;S～rose from the wet earth in the hot sun. 炎热的阳光下湿地升腾着潮气。

(3)蒸汽动力(power or energy produced by steam under pressure)[U]：the age of～蒸汽时代;before the days of～蒸汽时代之前;a～train 蒸汽机车;a～brake/whistle汽动闸/汽笛;～cleaning/power 蒸汽洗涤/动力;～-powered machinery 以蒸汽为动力的机器;a building heated by～以蒸汽取暖的房屋;Many engines are driven by～. 许多发动机由蒸汽驱动。Diesel fuel has replaced～on the railways. 蒸汽机车已经被内燃机车取代。

full steam ahead 全速(力)前进：The ship was moving full～ahead. 那艘船在全速前进。

blow off/let off steam 渲泄(情感，精力)(infml)：A noisy quarrel can be a way of letting off～. 大吵一顿是一种发泄方式。

get up steam 1)(车辆或发动机)缓慢增速：The train has to get up～again after a stop. 火车停车后又得重新缓慢起动。2)(人)打起精神(infml)：He was just getting up～to get to the summit of the mountain. 他正在铆足劲头攀向山顶。

run out of steam 没有动(精)力，精疲力竭(fig)(infml)：She ran out of～shortly before the end of the race. 临近终点，她感到筋疲力尽。

under one's own steam 依靠自己的力量(努力)(infml)：Now Jack could get about under his own～. 现在杰克能自己走动了。

→′steamy adj(似)蒸汽的;色情狂热的;′steamboat n 汽艇(船);′steam-engine n 蒸汽发动机;′steam-roller n 蒸汽压路机;v(用蒸汽压路机)压平，粉碎;′steamship n 轮(汽)船;′steam-shovel n 汽铲;蒸汽挖掘机;

v (1)放出蒸汽，冒热气(give out or send out steam) [I，I+p]： A kettle/pot is～ing (away) on the fire. 水壶/锅正在火上冒着蒸汽。a～ing apple pie 热气腾腾的苹果馅饼;a cup of～ing tea/coffee 一杯冒着热气的茶/咖啡;a bowl of broth 一碗热腾腾的肉汤;wipe one's～ing forehead 擦冒汗的前额;

(2)蒸煮(软，洗)(cook，soften or clean by means of steam)[T+n，C+n+adj，C+n+prep (off)]：～rice/potatoes 蒸米饭/土豆;～the fish for 15 minutes 将鱼蒸15分钟;The pudding should be～ed for two hours. 布丁应蒸两小时。～an envelope open 用热气把信封口嘘开;～stamps off envelopes 用热气把信封上的邮票嘘一嘘取下;

be/get (all) steamed up (about/over sth)变得热情(愤怒，激动等)(infml)：There's no need to get～ed up about such a trivial matter. 没有必要因如此琐事着急上火。

steam across/into/out of (v prep)(以蒸汽为动力的车船等)驶(进，出)(vt)：As the royal train～ed into the station，the crowd cheered. 当皇家列车驶进车站，人群欢呼起来。The ship～ed across the bay. 那船穿过海湾。They～ed out of port at 6：15. 他们在6点15分驶离港口。

steam along/away/off (v adv)(以蒸汽为动力的车船等)行驶;驶离(vi)：The train slowly～ed off，making a lot of noise. 火车发出隆隆响声，缓缓驶离了车站。

steam up (v adv)使蒙上水汽(vi & vt)：The windows have～ed up. I can't see out. 窗户已经蒙上了水汽，我看不到外面了。The warm air～ed up her glasses as she entered the room. 当她走进房间，热空气使她的眼镜片蒙上了水汽。

→′steamer n 汽船;蒸锅(笼)