steam up
verb1
To become steamy.
2
To become coated with condensation.
- The bathroom mirror steamed up when he opened the shower door.
- The large plateglass window, from which I had an excellent view of the countryside the following day, was prevented from steaming up by a de-misting device.1953 July, Allen Rowley, “First Impressions of American Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 493:
3
To bring (a steam boiler) up to working steam pressure: to build up a head of steam inside (a boiler).
- It takes about an hour to steam up the locomotive.
4
to build up a head of steam.
- Engine 99 had been steaming up since 21:00.
- "The master of the Nan-Shan [...] desired Mr. Rout to have steam up to-morrow afternoon at one o'clock sharp."1919, Joseph Conrad, Typhoon, page 8:
5
To cook by steaming.
- I'll steam up a bunch of dumplings.
- Related terms
- steaming up