steam heat
1
3.2
- noun
- /stiːm hiːt/
- Specialized
:
calefacción por vapor
Examples
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You feel that steam heat coming?
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I'd take steam heat any time.
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It'll cost $5,800, but that includes steam heat.
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No steam heat?
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"We have steam heat that comes out of the Medical College of Virginia, so cutting the thermostats doesn't save one watt of electricity."
Fiction book (1994) -
The old building is equipped with steam heat, ensuring warmth during the winter months.
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If you're considering renovations, adding steam heat could improve the building's energy efficiency.
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During the cold season, I appreciate how the steam heat keeps every room cozy and comfortable.
Synonyms
1
3.5
A system that makes hot vapor in a heater to warm rooms through pipes and radiators
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase 'steam heat' straightforwardly combines 'steam' (vaporized water) and 'heat' (system/supply of warmth), so its meaning — heating provided by steam — is directly derivable from the constituents. This compositional, technically descriptive compound follows common noun-noun formation patterns and would be clear to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Steam heat comes from old building systems where steam from a boiler moves through pipes and gives heat to radiators in each room. That's why the phrase means 'a heating system that uses steam'.