steamer

[ stee-mer ]

noun

1. something propelled or operated by steam, as a steamship.
2. a person or thing that steams.
3. a device, pot, or container in which something is steamed.
4. soft-shell clam.

verb (used without object)

1. to travel by steamship.

steamer

/ ˈstiːmə /

noun

1. a boat or ship driven by steam engines
2. Also calledsteam box an apparatus for steaming wooden beams and planks to make them pliable for shipbuilding
3. a vessel used to cook food by steam
4. slang.
   a clash of sporting teams characterized by rough play

Word History and Origins

Origin of steamer¹

First recorded in 1805–15; steam + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Today’s will be all about things that are helping me on my book tour, this handheld steamer I have, the lipstick I’ve been wearing…

From Salon

He noted that one machine his team is working on — a smart steamer that sterilizes soil — can be used near schools, where people don’t want “nasty chemical stuff.”

From Los Angeles Times

The steamer’s stock price has increased roughly 35% so far this year.

From Los Angeles Times

In Cumbria, lone bagpiper Richard Cowie played on the deck of a traditional steamer at Bowness-on-Windermere to honour the D-Day piper Bill Millin, who played on the Normandy beaches on D-Day to confound the enemy and boost the morale of allied troops.

From BBC

We sailed away to London, England, Louise and Beatrice, Lamont and I. We began our journey by steamer trunk—that biggest trunk that had stood open for days in Camilla’s bedroom, filling up with her new finery.

From Literature

Related Words

• barge
• boat
• craft
• liner
• ocean liner
• tanker