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ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

steamer.

A device or object that works by the operation of steam.

7 characters2 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/ˈstiːmə/Received-Pronunciation/ˈstimɚ/General-American
  1. A device or object that works by the operation of steam. A vessel in which articles are subjected to the action of steam, as in washing and in various processes of manufacture.

  2. A device or object that works by the operation of steam. A cooking appliance that cooks by steaming.

  3. A device or object that works by the operation of steam. A steam fire engine, that is, a steam boiler and engine driving a pump, which are all mounted on wheels.

    obsolete
  4. A mode of transportation propelled by steam. A steam-powered road locomotive; a traction engine.

  5. A mode of transportation propelled by steam. A vessel propelled by steam; a steamboat or steamship.

  6. Clipping of steamer trunk.

    abbreviation · alt-of · clipping
  7. A babycino (frothy milk drink).

  8. A wetsuit with long sleeves and legs.

  9. The name of various animals. The soft-shell clam, sand gaper, or long-neck clam (Mya arenaria), an edible saltwater clam; specifically the clam when steamed for eating.

    Maine
  10. The name of various animals. A steamer duck: any of the four species of the duck genus Tachyeres which are all found in South America, three of which are flightless.

  11. A racehorse the odds of which are becoming shorter (that is, decreasing) because bettors are backing it.

  12. An act of fellatio.

    UK · slang
  13. A member of a youth gang who engages in steaming (robbing and escaping in a large group).

    UK · slang
  14. A drinking session.

    Scotland · UK · slang
  15. A dish made by cooking diced meat very slowly in a tightly sealed pot with a minimum of flavourings, allowing it to steam in its own juices; specifically such a dish made with kangaroo meat.

    Australia · obsolete
  16. A steamed clam.

    in-plural
  17. A lump of fresh feces: a fresh bowel movement.

    countable · slang
  18. A stolen vehicle.

    slang
Where this word comes from

From steam + -er. The steamer duck or steamer (sense 6.2) is apparently named for its resemblance to a paddle steamer when swimming rapidly. The feces sense comically evokes the idea of steaming hot food and probably reflects that fresh feces sometimes give off visible water vapor in cold outdoor conditions such as those encountered by hunters, campers, and soldiers.

verb/ˈstiːmə/Received-Pronunciation/ˈstimɚ/General-American
  1. To travel by steamer.

    intransitive
Where this word comes from

From steam + -er. The steamer duck or steamer (sense 6.2) is apparently named for its resemblance to a paddle steamer when swimming rapidly. The feces sense comically evokes the idea of steaming hot food and probably reflects that fresh feces sometimes give off visible water vapor in cold outdoor conditions such as those encountered by hunters, campers, and soldiers.

noun/ˈstiːmə/Received-Pronunciation/ˈstimɚ/General-American
  1. A mug. A gullible or easily cheated person.

    UK · slang
  2. A mug. A stupid or contemptible person.

    UK · slang
  3. A homosexual man with a preference for passive partners.

    UK · slang
  4. A prostitute's client.

    UK · slang
  5. a gambler who increases a wager after losing.

    US · slang
Where this word comes from

From steam tug, rhyming slang for mug (“a gullible or easily cheated person; a stupid or contemptible person”).

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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.