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Glite Dictionary
steam heat

steam heat

1 3.2
A system that heats a building by sending steam to radiators
  • noun
  • /stiːm hiːt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : calefacción por vapor

Examples

  • You feel that steam heat coming?

    Bridesmaids (2011)

  • I'd take steam heat any time.

    The Big Shot (1942)

  • It'll cost $5,800, but that includes steam heat.

    My Man Godfrey (1936)

  • No steam heat?

    Battle Circus (1953)

  • "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.

  • If you're considering renovations, adding steam heat could improve the building's energy efficiency.

  • During the cold season, I appreciate how the steam heat keeps every room cozy and comfortable.

Synonyms

steam heating
vssteam heat
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A system that makes hot vapor in a heater to warm rooms through pipes and radiators

is the same idea but uses a different short phrasing

Surface Forms

steam heat singular
steam heats plural

Morphology

steam + heat

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'.