Steaming
adj, noun, verb, slang
adj, noun, verb, slang ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The action of steam on something. countable, uncountable
"Steaming is fine for this fabric, as long as you keep the iron moving."
- 2 The method of cooking by immersion in steam. countable, uncountable
"Their favorite way to cook clams is steaming."
- 3 The act or process of seafaring under steam power. countable, uncountable
"Steaming was their preferred way to travel until airliners came along."
- 4 The raising of steam by a steam locomotive etc; the maintenance of a head of steam during operation; (metonymic) operation under load. countable, uncountable
"Two 4-4-0s were steaming through the scenic foothills, giving rides to tourists."
- 5 A form of robbery in which a large gang moves swiftly and violently through a bus or train. UK, countable, informal, uncountable
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of steam form-of, gerund, participle, present
Adjective
- 1 Giving off steam.
"We were served with steaming bowls of soup."
- 2 Extremely hot
- 3 Very angry. slang
"I was steaming when I heard about their betrayal."
- 4 Extremely drunk. UK, slang
"‘Will it help or hinder if I tell you I was steaming that evening and remember nothing, full stop?’"
Adjective
- 1 filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist wordnet
Adverb
- 1 (used of heat) extremely wordnet
Example
More examples"The cauldron was steaming and bubbling."
Etymology
By surface analysis, steam + -ing.
Related phrases
More for "steaming"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.