to that pressure. A more common form, especially for high pressures, consists of a spring pressed upon
by the steam, and connected with the pointer of a dial. The spring may be a flattened, bent tube, closed
at one end, which the entering steam tends to straighten, or it may be a diaphragm of elastic metal,
or a mass of confined air, etc. — Steam gun, a machine or contrivance from which projectiles may
be thrown by the elastic force of steam. — Steam hammer, a hammer for forging, which is worked
directly by steam; especially, a hammer which is guided vertically and operated by a vertical steam cylinder
located directly over an anvil. In the variety known as Nasmyth's, the cylinder is fixed, and the hammer
is attached to the piston rod. In that known as Condie's, the piston is fixed, and the hammer attached
to the lower end of the cylinder. — Steam heater. (a) A radiator heated by steam. (b) An apparatus
consisting of a steam boiler, radiator, piping, and fixures for warming a house by steam. — Steam
jacket. See under Jacket. — Steam packet, a packet or vessel propelled by steam, and running
periodically between certain ports. — Steam pipe, any pipe for conveying steam; specifically, a pipe
through which steam is supplied to an engine. — Steam plow or plough, a plow, or gang of plows,
moved by a steam engine. — Steam port, an opening for steam to pass through, as from the steam
chest into the cylinder. — Steam power, the force or energy of steam applied to produce results; power
derived from a steam engine. — Steam propeller. See Propeller. — Steam pump, a small pumping
engine operated by steam. It is usually direct-acting. — Steam room (Steam Boilers), the space in
the boiler above the water level, and in the dome, which contains steam. — Steam table, a table on
which are dishes heated by steam for keeping food warm in the carving room of a hotel, restaurant, etc.
— Steam trap, a self- acting device by means of which water that accumulates in a pipe or vessel
containing steam will be discharged without permitting steam to escape. — Steam tug, a steam vessel
used in towing or propelling ships. — Steam vessel, a vessel propelled by steam; a steamboat or
steamship; — a steamer. — Steam whistle, an apparatus attached to a steam boiler, as of a locomotive,
through which steam is rapidly discharged, producing a loud whistle which serves as a warning signal.
The steam issues from a narrow annular orifice around the upper edge of the lower cup or hemisphere,
striking the thin edge of the bell above it, and producing sound in the manner of an organ pipe or a
common whistle.
Steam
(Steam) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Steamed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Steaming.]
1. To emit steam or vapor.
My brother's ghost hangs hovering there,
O'er his warm blood, that steams into the air.
Dryden.
Let the crude humors dance
In heated brass, steaming with fire intence.
J. Philips. 2. To rise in vapor; to issue, or pass off, as vapor.
The dissolved amber . . . steamed away into the air.
Boyle. 3. To move or travel by the agency of steam.
The vessel steamed out of port.
N. P. Willis. 4. To generate steam; as, the boiler steams well.
Steam
(Steam) v. t.
1. To exhale. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing; as, to steam
wood; to steamcloth; to steam food, etc.
