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steam turbine

steam turbine

2 4.6
A machine that uses steam to spin blades and make electricity
  • noun
  • /stiːm ˈtɜːrbaɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : turbina de vapor
  • Placek has devoted more than 25 years to the development, design, and manufacture of steam turbines with General Electric Co.
  • steam turbine generator
  • steam turbine to generate electricity
  • power a steam turbine

Examples

  • During the test, the steam turbine successfully generated enough power to run the machinery.

  • The photo below shows a typical process steam turbine rotor.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Electricity is then generated in steam turbines in a conventional way.

    Academic text (2002)
  • In manufacturing and process industries, steam turbines like this one are often heavily integrated into plant processes.

    Academic text (1998)
  • You recover the heat from the hot exhaust, which makes steam, which drives a steam turbine, combined cycle CC.

  • The hot turbine exhaust gas produces steam to drive a steam turbine generator.

    Academic text (1994)
  • A typical 500-megawatt steam turbine generator undergoes a major inspection and repair outage every five or six years.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The system includes a pressurized circulating fluidized-bed gasifier, a gas turbine, and a steam turbine.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Steam turbines play a crucial role in producing electricity in modern power plants.

  • The engineering team designed a new steam turbine to improve energy efficiency in the factory.

Synonyms

turbine
vssteam turbine
  • Specialized
91 3.9

A machine that uses moving water, steam, or air to turn blades and make power

focuses on using high pressure steam to spin blades rather than any other fluid
turbogenerator
vssteam turbine
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A machine that uses steam to turn a turbine and make electricity

is the machine that uses high pressure steam to spin blades without the generator
condensing turbine
vssteam turbine
  • Specialized
6.5

A steam machine that makes electricity and turns steam into water

uses high pressure steam to spin blades for power or mechanical work

How Powerful

power plant
  • US
143 2.9
turbomachinery
  • Specialized
7.6
steam turbine
  • Specialized
2 4.6
hydroelectric turbine
  • Specialized
1 4.3
wind turbine
  • Specialized
34 3.7

Surface Forms

steam turbine singular

Morphology

steam + turbine

The meaning 'a turbine driven by steam' is directly and compositionally derived from the constituents 'steam' (water vapor) and 'turbine' (a device converting fluid energy to mechanical energy). This noun-noun compound follows a common and regular pattern cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Steam turbine combines steam, meaning hot gas from boiling water, and turbine, a wheel with blades. Imagine hot steam hitting the blades and making the wheel spin to make electricity, so the name means 'a machine that uses steam to turn blades and make electricity'.