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Steam vs Powder - What's the difference?

steam | powder |

As an initialism steam

is .

As a noun powder is

the fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust.

As a verb powder is

to reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder.

steam

English

(wikipedia steam)

Noun

(-)
  • The vapor formed when water changes from liquid phase to gas phase.
  • Pressurized water vapour used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical energy.
  • (figuratively) Internal energy for motive power.
  • After three weeks in bed he was finally able to sit up under his own steam .
  • (figuratively) Pent-up anger.
  • Dad had to go outside to blow off some steam .
  • A steam-powered vehicle.
  • Travel by means of a steam-powered vehicle.
  • (obsolete) Any exhalation.
  • * Milton
  • a steam of rich, distilled perfumes

    Synonyms

    * (a steam-powered vehicle) steamer

    Derived terms

    * blow off steam * build up steam * steam bath * steamboat * steam boiler * steam condenser * steam distillation * steam engine * steam hammer * steam heater * steam iron * steam locomotive * steam power * steam-powered * steam railroad * steamroller * steamship * steam shovel * steam train * steam turbine * run out of steam * under one's own steam

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (cooking) To cook with steam.
  • To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing.
  • to steam wood or cloth
  • To produce or vent steam.
  • * Dryden
  • My brother's ghost hangs hovering there, / O'er his warm blood, that steams into the air.
  • To rise in vapour; to issue, or pass off, as vapour.
  • * Boyle
  • The dissolved amber steamed away into the air.
  • (figuratively) To become angry; to fume; to be incensed.
  • (figuratively) To make angry.
  • It really steams me to see her treat him like that.
  • To be covered with condensed water vapor.
  • With all the heavy breathing going on the windows were quickly steamed in the car.
  • To travel by means of steam power.
  • We steamed around the Mediterranean.
  • * N. P. Willis
  • The vessel steamed out of port.
  • (figuratively, or, literally) To move with great or excessive purposefulness.
  • If he heard of anyone picking the fruit he would steam off and lecture them.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Chris Whyatt , title=Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=That was the hard work largely done as the Ivorian waited for Malouda to steam into the box before releasing a simple crossed pass which the Frenchman side-footed home with aplomb. }}
  • (obsolete) To exhale.
  • (Spenser)

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * steamer * steaming

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Old-fashioned; from before the digital age.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • powder

    English

    Alternative forms

    * powdre (obsolete)

    Noun

  • The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust.
  • * (rfdate) (William Shakespeare):
  • Grind their bones to powder small.
  • A mixture of fine dry, sweet-smelling particles applied to the face or other body parts, to reduce shine or to alleviate chaffing.
  • * 1912 , :
  • She was redolent of violet sachet powder, and had warm, soft, white hands, but she danced divinely, moving as smoothly as the tide coming in.
  • An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder.
  • (informal) Light, dry, fluffy snow.
  • Derived terms

    * Atlas powder * baking powder * Bolivian marching powder * powder blue * powder burn * powder down * powder-down feather * powder-down patch * powder hose * powder hoy * powder magazine * powder mine * powder monkey * powder post * powder puff * powder room * take a powder

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder.
  • To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder.
  • to powder the hair
  • * (rfdate) :
  • A circling zone thou seest / Powdered with stars.
  • To be reduced to powder; to become like powder.
  • Some salts powder easily.
  • To use powder on the hair or skin.
  • She paints and powders .
  • To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat.
  • Synonyms

    * (to reduce to fine particles) pound, grind, comminute, pulverize, triturate