What does "steamer" mean?
A device or object that works by the operation of steam.; A vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam, as in washing and in various processes of manufacture.
Steamer
/ˈstiːmə/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A device or object that works by the operation of steam.; A vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam, as in washing and in various processes of manufacture.
- Grammar: steamer is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: steamship, automobile, blue point, clam.
- Useful contrasts: broiler, dry iron, fryer.
- Usage evidence: The steamer is now out of sight.
How to use "steamer"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "steamer" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "steamer" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "steamer" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "steamer" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "steamer" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "steamship" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "steamer", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A device or object that works by the operation of steam.; A vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam, as in washing and in various processes of manufacture.
- 2 A mug.; A gullible or easily cheated person. British, slang
- 3 an edible clam with thin oval-shaped shell found in coastal regions of the United States and Europe wordnet
- 4 A device or object that works by the operation of steam.; A cooking appliance that cooks by steaming.
- 5 A mug.; A stupid or contemptible person. British, slang
Show 21 more definitions
- 6 a ship powered by one or more steam engines wordnet
- 7 A device or object that works by the operation of steam.; A steam fire engine, that is, a steam boiler and engine driving a pump, which are all mounted on wheels. obsolete
- 8 A homosexual man with a preference for passive partners. British, slang
- 9 a cooking utensil that can be used to cook food by steaming it wordnet
- 10 A mode of transportation propelled by steam.; A steam-powered road locomotive; a traction engine.
- 11 A prostitute's client. British, slang
- 12 a clam that is usually steamed in the shell wordnet
- 13 A mode of transportation propelled by steam.; A vessel propelled by steam; a steamboat or steamship.
"Her gunboat fleet alone is composed of one hundred and sixty-one small steamers, of the efficiency of which for war purports naval critics have formed a high estimate."
- 14 a gambler who increases a wager after losing. US, slang
- 15 Clipping of steamer trunk. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
- 16 A babycino (frothy milk drink).
- 17 A wetsuit with long sleeves and legs.
- 18 The name of various animals.; The soft-shell clam, sand gaper, or long-neck clam (Mya arenaria), an edible saltwater clam; specifically the clam when steamed for eating. Maine
- 19 The name of various animals.; A steamer duck: any of the four species of the duck genus Tachyeres which are all found in South America, three of which are flightless.
- 20 A racehorse the odds of which are becoming shorter (that is, decreasing) because bettors are backing it.
- 21 An act of fellatio. British, slang
- 22 A member of a youth gang who engages in steaming (robbing and escaping in a large group). British, slang
- 23 A drinking session. British, Scotland, slang
- 24 A dish made by cooking diced meat very slowly in a tightly sealed pot with a minimum of flavourings, allowing it to steam in its own juices; specifically such a dish made with kangaroo meat. Australia, obsolete
"But of all the dishes ever brought to table, nothing equals that of the "steamer." It is made by mincing the flesh of the kangaroo, and with it some pieces of pork or bacon. The animal has not any fat, or scarcely any, in its best season; when the meat is chopped up, it is thrown into a saucepan and covered over with the lid, and left to stew or steam gently by the fire-side: it is, from this method of cooking, called "steamer." [...] the flesh soon floats in its own rich gravy: it only requires pepper and salt to render it delicious. No one can tell what a steamer is, unless it has been tasted; it indeed affords an excellent repast, and it is surprising that the steamer, preserved in tins, has not yet been exported to England."
- 25 A steamed clam. in-plural
- 26 A stolen vehicle. slang
Verb
- 1 To travel by steamer. intransitive
- 2 travel by means of steam power wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The steamer is now out of sight."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "steamer"?
Common synonyms include: steamship, automobile, blue point, clam, clothes steamer, coquillage.
How do you use "steamer" in a sentence?
The steamer is now out of sight.
How do you pronounce "steamer"?
Pronounced /ˈstiːmə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From steam + -er. The steamer duck or steamer (sense 6.2) is apparently named for its resemblance to a paddle steamer when swimming rapidly.
Etymology 2
From steam tug, rhyming slang for mug (“a gullible or easily cheated person; a stupid or contemptible person”).