steaming
steaming — adjective
- steamingpositive
- more steamingcomparative
- most steamingsuperlative
1. so hot that small clouds of water vapour rise from the surface.
so hot that small clouds of water vapour rise from the surface.
Mei placed a steaming bowl of noodle soup in front of her guest.
before noun: steaming + food/drink noun
A cup of steaming tea sat beside the open notebook on the desk.
collocation: steaming tea / coffee
Zayd warmed his cold hands over the steaming pot on the stove.
After the rain, the wet road lay steaming under the strong afternoon sun.
The waiter carried four plates of steaming rice across the busy room.
- piping hot
informal, only for food and drink
- scalding
stronger, suggests hot enough to burn
- ice-cold
of food or drink
文法句型
steaming + noun
用法筆記
Almost always placed directly before a noun for hot food, drinks, or wet surfaces. Distinguish from sense 2 (anger), which never describes physical heat.
2. feeling so angry that you can hardly control yourself.
feeling so angry that you can hardly control yourself.
Hassan was steaming after the referee ignored an obvious foul.
after verb 'be': be steaming
Talia sat steaming in the car while her brother explained the missed flight.
The coach was absolutely steaming when his players arrived an hour late.
Paloma was still steaming about the rude email two days later.
By the time the meeting ended, half the staff were quietly steaming.
文法句型
steaming about / over + noun
用法筆記
Informal and almost always used after the verb 'be'. Often followed by 'about' or 'over' to name the cause. Stronger than simply 'annoyed'.
常見錯誤
3. very drunk after having too much alcohol.
very drunk after having too much alcohol.
Eric came home steaming after the wedding and fell asleep on the sofa.
British informal: be steaming = very drunk
By midnight half the football fans were steaming and singing in the street.
Allison admitted she got steaming at the office party last December.
Christopher was steaming drunk and could barely find his own front door.
Two steaming passengers were asked to leave the late train at Glasgow.
文法句型
steaming + (drunk)
用法筆記
British informal slang for being very drunk. Often strengthened to 'steaming drunk'. Do not use this sense in formal writing.
steaming — verb
- steamingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- steamings3rd person singular
- steaminging-ing form
- steamingedpast simple
1. to let off small clouds of water vapour, usually because of heat.
to let off small clouds of water vapour, usually because of heat.
The hot soup steamed gently as Romi carried it to the table.
intransitive: something steams
Fresh bread steamed on the rack the moment Shanti opened the oven.
The kettle steamed loudly until Élise finally turned off the gas.
Wet boots steamed beside the fire after the long walk in the snow.
The horses steamed in the cold morning air after the hard race.
- smoke
for solids that give off smoke, not vapour
文法句型
something steams
用法筆記
Subject is usually something hot or wet — food, drinks, machines, or bodies in cold air. Used without an object.
2. to cook food by placing it over boiling water so the hot vapour heats it.
to cook food by placing it over boiling water so the hot vapour heats it.
Mei likes to steam fresh fish with ginger and a little soy sauce.
transitive: steam + food
Steam the green vegetables for five minutes so they stay crisp and bright.
imperative in a recipe
Hassan steamed a basket of dumplings for the whole family on Sunday.
The chef steamed the buns until they turned soft and slightly shiny.
You should steam the rice rather than boil it for a drier result.
- boil
cooks in water itself, not over the steam
文法句型
steam + food
用法筆記
Object is almost always food — fish, vegetables, dumplings, rice. Distinguish from sense 1, which has no object and just describes vapour rising.
3. to move somewhere quickly and with great energy, often without stopping for anyt
to move somewhere quickly and with great energy, often without stopping for anything.
Talia steamed into the meeting room and demanded an immediate answer.
steam + into + place
The old ferry steamed slowly across the wide grey harbour at dawn.
literal steam power: a ship steams
Paloma steamed ahead with the project while the others were still arguing.
Eric steamed past the slower runners on the final bend of the track.
The train steamed out of the station exactly two minutes behind schedule.
文法句型
steam + adverb of direction
用法筆記
Always followed by an adverb or preposition of direction (into, past, ahead, across). Comes from ships powered by steam and now suggests fast, forceful movement.
4. to feel very angry inside, usually while trying not to show it.
to feel very angry inside, usually while trying not to show it.
Shanti was still steaming over the unfair grade her teacher had given.
steam over + cause
Romi sat quietly steaming as the loud neighbours started another late party.
Christopher steamed in silence after losing the contract to a rival firm.
The whole crowd was steaming when the concert was cancelled at the gate.
Élise steamed for the rest of the day about the broken promise.
文法句型
someone is steaming
用法筆記
Often followed by 'over' or 'about' to name the cause. Suggests anger held inside, distinct from sense 3, which is about fast physical movement.