# steam

> English word · Noun · IPA /stiːm/ · frequency rank #2,918

## Definitions
1. The hot gaseous form of water, formed when water changes from the liquid phase to the gas phase (at or above its boiling point temperature).
2. The suspended condensate (cloud) formed by water vapour when it encounters colder air.
3. The suspended condensate (cloud) formed by water vapour when it encounters colder air.
4. Pressurized water vapour used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical energy.
5. The act of cooking by steaming.
6. Internal energy for progress or motive power.
7. Pent-up anger.
8. A steam-powered vehicle, referring to their use.
9. Travel by means of a steam-powered vehicle.
10. Any exhalation.
11. Fencing without the use of any electric equipment.

## Etymology
From Middle English steem, stem, from Old English stēam (“steam, hot exhalation, hot breath; that which emits vapour; blood”), from Proto-Germanic *staumaz (“steam, vapour, breath”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“to whirl, waft, stink, shake; steam, haze, smoke”). Cognate with Scots stem, steam (“steam”), West Frisian steam (“steam, vapour”), Dutch stoom (“steam, vapour”), Low German stom (“steam”), Swedish dialectal stimma (“steam, fog”), Latin fūmus (“smoke, steam”).

## Easily confused with
- **STM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-stm)
- **stem** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-stem)
- **stew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-stew)
- **swam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-swam)
- **steps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-steps)
- **steel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-steel)
- **Steve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-steve)
- **storm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-storm)
- **swear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-swear)
- **sweat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-sweat)
- **steep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-steep)
- **straw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-straw)
- **stern** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-stern)
- **strap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-strap)
- **stray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-stray)
- **steer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-steer)
- **stein** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-stein)
- **Steph** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-steph)
- **strat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-strat)
- **steed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/steam-vs-steed)

## Common misspellings (7)
`setam`, `ssteam`, `staem`, `steamm`, `stema`, `stteam`, `tseam`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/steam