steamer

IPA/ˈstiːmə(r)/
KK[stˈimɚ]IPA/ˈstiːmər/

steamer — noun

  • steamersingular
  • steamersplural

1. A water vessel whose engine uses heat to turn water into steam, and the force of

1.nounB1
Definition

A water vessel whose engine uses heat to turn water into steam, and the force of that steam pushes the ship forward across rivers or seas.

Example

The old steamer docked at the harbour with a loud blast of its whistle.

steamer + docked (subject-verb collocation)

Walid's great-grandfather worked on a steamer that carried cotton along the Nile.

worked on a steamer (preposition 'on')

Common collocations
  • board a steamer
  • sail on a steamer
  • steamer whistle
  • steamer docked
  • vintage steamer
  • steamer crossed the Atlantic
Synonyms
  • steamship

    More formal; used for large ocean-going vessels, especially in historical writing.

  • steamboat

    Usually refers to smaller steam-powered boats that travel on rivers rather than oceans.

  • steam vessel

    Technical or formal term covering any water craft driven by steam.

Usage Note

This sense now mainly describes historical or tourist vessels; modern commercial ships do not use steam power.

Common Mistakes

We took a steamer to cross the English Channel last week.
We took a ferry to cross the English Channel last week.
Modern cross-channel ferries are diesel-powered, not steam-powered, so 'ferry' is the natural word today.

2. A kitchen tool whose base has many tiny openings, designed to sit above boiling

2.nounB1
Definition

A kitchen tool whose base has many tiny openings, designed to sit above boiling water so that the hot steam rises through the food placed on top and cooks it gently.

Example

Sana placed the sliced fish in the steamer and put the lid on tightly.

steamer + lid (parts of the tool)

You can use a bamboo steamer to make soft, fluffy buns at home.

bamboo steamer (common modifier)

Common collocations
  • bamboo steamer
  • electric steamer
  • steamer basket
  • steamer lid
  • steam vegetables in a steamer
  • place food in the steamer
Synonyms
  • steamer basket

    Specifically refers to the perforated metal or bamboo container, usually placed inside a pot.

  • steamer insert

    A type of steamer that fits inside an existing pot rather than being a standalone appliance.

Usage Note

Bamboo steamers are traditional in East Asian kitchens. Electric steamers plug into a wall outlet, while metal steam baskets sit directly in a pot of water.

Common Mistakes

I put the vegetables in a steamer and boiled them for ten minutes.
I put the vegetables in a steamer and steamed them for ten minutes.
A steamer cooks by steam, not by direct contact with boiling water.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

"Steamer" is the broadest word — it covers any tool or machine that cooks with steam. "Steamer basket" or "steamer insert" narrows the meaning to the perforated container that sits inside a pot, not a separate appliance. "Bamboo steamer" refers to the traditional East Asian version made of woven bamboo, often stacked in tiers. An electric steamer is a self-contained appliance with a built-in heating element, whereas a steamer basket needs a pot and a stovetop. If someone says "Put the dumplings in the steamer," they probably mean a bamboo steamer, but "Use a steamer to cook the fish" is vague between an electric appliance and a basket setup — context decides.

steamer ↗steamer basketsteamer insertbamboo steamer

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed from the noun "steam" and the suffix "-er", which creates nouns meaning 'something that does or produces the base word'. The word entered English in the early 1800s, shortly after steam engines were first fitted to riverboats and seagoing ships, reflecting a need for a compact term for a steam-powered vessel.