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let off steam

 [steem]   Origin

steam

   [steem]
noun
1.
water in the form of an invisible gas or vapor.
2.
water changed to this form by boiling, extensively used for the generation of mechanical power, for heating purposes, etc.
3.
the mist formed when the gas or vapor from boiling water condenses in the air.
4.
an exhalation of a vapor or mist.
5.
Informal. power or energy.
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Ad
verb (used without object)
6.
to emit or give off steam or vapor.
7.
to rise or pass off in the form of steam or vapor.
8.
to become covered with condensed steam, as a window or other surface (often followed by up).
9.
to generate or produce steam, as in a boiler.
10.
to move or travel by the agency of steam.
EXPAND
11.
to move rapidly or evenly: He steamed out of the room.
12.
Informal. to be angry or show anger.
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Let off steam is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
verb (used with object)
13.
to expose to or treat with steam, as in order to heat, cook, soften, renovate, or the like.
14.
to emit or exhale (steam or vapor).
15.
Slang. to cause to become irked or angry (often followed by up).
16.
to convey by the agency of steam: to steam the ship safely into port.
adjective
17.
heated by or heating with steam: a steam radiator.
18.
propelled by or propelling with a steam engine.
19.
operated by steam.
20.
conducting steam: a steam line.
21.
bathed with or affected by steam.
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22.
of or pertaining to steam.
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Idiom
23.
blow/let off steam, Informal. to give vent to one's repressed emotions, especially by talking or behaving in an unrestrained manner: Don't take her remarks too seriously—she was just blowing off steam.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English steme, Old English stēam; cognate with Dutch stoom

Related forms
steam·less, adjective
out·steam, verb (used with object)
pre·steam, adjective, verb (used with object)
un·steamed, adjective
un·steam·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To let off steam
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

steam
O.E. steam "vapor, fume," from P.Gmc. *staumaz (cf. Du. stoom), of unknown origin. The verb is from O.E. stemen, stymen "to emit a scent or odor;" slang meaning "to make angry" is from 1922. Steamy is first attested 1644; in the sense of "erotic, sexy," it is first recorded 1952. Steamboat is from 1787;
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steam-engine is from 1751; steamer is 1814 in the cookery sense, 1825 as "a vessel propelled by steam," hence steamer trunk (1885), one that carries the essentials for a voyage. Steam age first attested 1941. Steam heat as a method of temperature control recorded from 1904. Steam-roller is from 1866; as a verb, first recorded 1912.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
steam   (stēm)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. Water in its gaseous state, especially at a temperature above the boiling point of water (above 100°C, or 212°F, at sea level). See Note at vapor.

  2. A mist of condensed water vapor.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

blow off (some) steam definition


and let off (some) steam
  1. tv.
    to release emotional tension by talking or getting angry. : Let off some steam. Get it out of your system. , The kids run around and let off some steam.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

steam (so) definition


  1. tv.
    to get someone excited. : The coach can really steam up those guys.
  2. tv.
    to get someone angry. (See also steamed (up).) : This whole mess steamed me up but good.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

let off steam

see blow off steam.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
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