vapor
faint mist, steam, or fumes
A light cloud of tiny drops or particles in the air, like mist, steam, or fumes.
vapor rises from [something]
- A thin vapor rose from the wet street after the rain stopped.
- Cold air hit the hot tea, and a cloud of vapor curled above the cup.
- He could see gasoline vapor shimmering in the heat around the broken fuel line.
- The bathroom mirror fogged up with warm vapor after the shower.
- White vapor poured from the factory pipes on the cold morning.
- Vapor came from the hot soup.
- I can see my breath as white vapor in the cold air.
- Warm vapor fills the room when I take a hot shower.
- A cloud of vapor slowly rose from the wet ground.
- Thick vapor covered the lake early in the morning.
gas form of a substance
The gas form of a substance that is usually a liquid or a solid, especially in science.
[substance] vapor
- As the temperature rises, more water changes into water vapor in the atmosphere.
- The experiment measures the vapor pressure of the liquid at different temperatures.
- Fuel vapor in the tank must be carefully controlled to prevent explosions.
- Mercury vapor can be highly toxic if inhaled in a closed space.
- The substance exists as a vapor at room temperature but condenses when cooled.
- Water becomes water vapor when it boils.
- In this test, we measure the vapor that comes from the liquid.
- The tank holds fuel vapor above the liquid gasoline.
- When the vapor cools, it turns back into liquid.
- Scientists study how much vapor is in the air.
old term for faintness or hysteria
An old-fashioned word, usually in the form "the vapors," meaning a sudden feeling of weakness or strong emotion that makes someone feel like they might faint.
have the vapors
- In the old novel, the lady claimed she had the vapors and asked for a chair.
- The shocking news nearly gave her the vapors, at least in her dramatic telling of it.
- Servants rushed to open a window when their mistress complained of the vapors.
- He joked that the sight of the bill would give his mother the vapors.
- The character was forever suffering from the vapors in that nineteenth‑century play.
- In this old story, the woman says she has the vapors.
- He uses the word "vapors" as a joke when he feels shocked.
- The doctor in the book says the young lady has the vapors.
- People do not use the word "vapors" like this in modern speech.
- The film shows a woman who gets "the vapors" and has to lie down.
- Base: vapor
- Plural: vapor, vapors
fuel vapor
1vapor form of fuel
Fuel, such as gasoline, that has turned into vapor and can burn or explode easily.
- The tank is designed to capture fuel vapor and reduce pollution.
- A small spark can ignite fuel vapor in a closed space.
- Mechanics checked for fuel vapor leaks around the engine.
vapor barrier
1material layer blocking moisture
A special layer in a building that stops water vapor from moving through walls, floors, or roofs.
- Builders installed a plastic vapor barrier behind the drywall.
- A good vapor barrier helps prevent mold inside the walls.
- The contractor recommended adding a vapor barrier under the new floor.
vapor cloud
1large mass of vapor in air
A large group or "cloud" of vapor in the air, often from a chemical or fuel leak.
- The factory leak created a toxic vapor cloud over the area.
- Emergency crews tracked the movement of the vapor cloud with sensors.
- A flammable vapor cloud can explode if it finds an ignition source.
vapor lock
1fuel flow blocked by vapor
A problem in an engine’s fuel system where fuel changes to vapor and stops the fuel from moving correctly.
- The old car stalled on the hill because of vapor lock in the fuel line.
- High temperatures can increase the risk of vapor lock in aircraft engines.
- Mechanics checked the fuel pump after repeated vapor lock issues.
vapor phase
1state where substance is vapor
The state in which a substance exists as a vapor, not as a liquid or solid.
- The reaction occurs mainly in the vapor phase at high temperatures.
- Engineers measured the concentration of the chemical in the vapor phase.
- In the vapor phase, molecules are far apart and move freely.
vapor pressure
1pressure from a vapor
The pressure made by a vapor in a closed space when it is in balance with its liquid or solid form.
- The boiling point of a liquid depends on its vapor pressure.
- Students learned how temperature affects the vapor pressure of water.
- Substances with high vapor pressure evaporate more easily.
vapor trail
1thin cloud behind airplane
A long, thin line of cloud in the sky that forms behind an airplane.
- We watched the jet's vapor trail slowly spread across the blue sky.
- Several white vapor trails crisscrossed above the city at sunset.
- The plane left a bright vapor trail that faded after a few minutes.
water vapor
1gaseous form of water
Water in gas form, usually invisible, that is in the air or in a closed space.
- Clouds form when water vapor in the air cools and condenses.
- The bathroom is full of water vapor after a hot shower.
- Greenhouse gases and water vapor help trap heat in the atmosphere.