steamer
gb/stˈimɚ/ us/stˈimɚ/
A2
English
~ 4100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Appliance for steaming food
A machine or pot that cooks food using hot steam.
Usage pattern:
[someone] uses a steamer to cook [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'steamer' with 'steam oven'; a steamer only uses steam, not dry heat.
Synonyms
steam cooker (A more descriptive term, often used interchangeably but slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
fryer (Cooks food in hot oil instead of steam.)
Collocations
electric steamer
|bamboo steamer
|vegetable steamer
|steamer basket
Themes
cooking
|daily life
|kitchen
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She placed the dumplings in the bamboo steamer.
- An electric steamer makes cooking vegetables easy and healthy.
- The fish was cooked perfectly in the steamer.
Learner examples
- I use a steamer to cook rice.
- He put the vegetables in the steamer.
- The steamer makes soft bread.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Ship driven by steam power
A large boat that moves using power from steam.
Usage pattern:
[someone] travels on a steamer to [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'steamer' refers to any boat; it specifically means one powered by steam.
Synonyms
steamship (More formal and specific term, often used historically.)
Antonyms
sailing ship (A ship powered by sails and wind instead of steam.)
Collocations
paddle steamer
|ocean steamer
|river steamer
Themes
transportation
|history
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The old river steamer is now a tourist attraction.
- They crossed the Atlantic on a luxury steamer.
- The paddle steamer slowly made its way upstream.
Learner examples
- The steamer goes down the river.
- We saw a big steamer at the port.
- The old steamer is very slow.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Device producing steam for cleaning
A machine that makes hot steam to clean things or remove wrinkles from clothes.
Usage pattern:
[someone] uses a steamer to clean [something]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this with an iron; an iron presses clothes with heat, while a steamer uses steam without pressing.
Synonyms
steam cleaner (A broader term for steam-based cleaning devices.)
Antonyms
vacuum cleaner (Uses suction instead of steam for cleaning.)
Collocations
clothes steamer
|garment steamer
|steam cleaner
Themes
cleaning
|daily life
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She used a garment steamer to remove wrinkles from her dress.
- A handheld steamer can clean kitchen tiles easily.
- The hotel provides a clothes steamer in each room.
Learner examples
- I have a small steamer for my shirts.
- He uses a steamer to clean the floor.
- The steamer makes my clothes smooth.
Grammar
Dictionary form
steamer
IPA
GB/stˈimɚ/
US/stˈimɚ/
Syllables & stress
steam - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (steam)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: steamer
- Plural: steamers
Word family
Expressions
bamboo steamer
1/bæmbˈu stˈimɚ/
fixed phrase
Bamboo basket for steaming food
A cooking basket made of bamboo that lets hot steam cook food.
Examples
- She placed dumplings in the bamboo steamer.
- A bamboo steamer is often used in Chinese cooking.
clam steamer
1/klˈæm stˈimɚ/
fixed phrase
Social event for steaming clams
A party or meal where clams are cooked with steam and eaten together.
Examples
- We went to a summer clam steamer at the beach.
- The town holds an annual clam steamer in July.
paddle steamer
1/pˈædəl stˈimɚ/
fixed phrase
Steamship with paddle wheels
A boat that moves using steam power and large wheels on the sides or back.
Examples
- We took a ride on an old paddle steamer along the river.
- The paddle steamer is a popular tourist attraction in the city harbor.