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Glite Dictionary
to steam-heat

to steam-heat

5.1
To heat a building by sending steam through pipes or radiators
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : calentar con vapor
  • The factory uses a central boiler to steam-heat several areas, ensuring continuous operation.

Examples

  • That eyeball treatment usually means they're steam-heating your radiator.

    Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964)

  • In winter, the old building's radiators steam-heat the rooms, keeping them warm and cozy.

  • To improve energy efficiency, the new system steam-heats water and distributes it through the pipes.

Synonyms

to heat
vsto steam-heat
298 1.0

To make something hot or warmer

uses hot vapor circulated in pipes or radiators to warm things

How Hot

to boil
269 1.0
to scald
14 4.8
to steam-heat
5.1
to heat
298 1.0
to warm
488 1.0

Surface Forms

steam-heat infinitive
steam-heated past
steam-heated past participle
steam-heating present participle
steam-heats third person singular

Morphology

steam-heat = steam + heat (transparent) = steam + heat

The verb is a direct compound of 'steam' + 'heat' meaning to heat by means of steam, which is immediately inferable from the parts.

Etymology

The word steam-heat is made from steam ('hot water vapour') and heat ('warmth'). It means to warm a place by sending steam through pipes or radiators, so imagine a kettle's steam moving through pipes to heat a room.