Vapor vs. Steam: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on February 23, 2024
Vapor is a substance diffused or suspended in the air, especially one normally liquid or solid; Steam is the vapor into which water is converted when heated, forming a white mist of minute water droplets in the air.
Key Differences
Vapor generally refers to the gaseous state of a substance that is typically solid or liquid at room temperature. Steam, specifically, is the vapor that forms when water is heated to the boiling point and undergoes a phase change.
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Feb 23, 2024
The term vapor encompasses a wide range of substances in their gaseous forms, not limited to water. Steam, however, is exclusively associated with water vapor, especially when it's visible as a mist or cloud.
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Feb 23, 2024
Vapor can be produced at various temperatures, depending on the substance, and does not necessarily require boiling. Steam is produced from water at its boiling point, signifying a specific temperature and pressure where water turns to gas.
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Feb 23, 2024
In scientific contexts, vapor can refer to a gas below its critical temperature, meaning it can be condensed to a liquid by increasing pressure without lowering temperature. Steam, in a technical sense, often refers to water vapor that is above the boiling point of water and is in equilibrium with its liquid phase.
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Feb 23, 2024
The usage of vapor is often in the context of evaporation or sublimation, where a substance gradually turns into gas. Steam is typically associated with the rapid boiling of water, producing a hot mist that is visible in the air.
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Feb 23, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Gaseous state of a substance usually liquid or solid.
Water vapor specifically from boiling water.
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Formation
Can form at various temperatures.
Forms at 100°C, water's boiling point.
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Usage in Language
Used broadly for various substances.
Specifically used for water vapor.
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Scientific Context
Refers to a gas below its critical temperature.
Refers to water vapor at or above boiling point.
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Feb 23, 2024
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Vapor and Steam Definitions
Vapor
A gaseous form of a substance normally liquid or solid.
The kettle emitted a gentle vapor.
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Steam
Water in the form of an invisible gas formed by boiling.
The pot on the stove was full of bubbling steam.
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Vapor
A visible exhalation as fog, mist, or smoke.
A thin vapor rose from the damp grass.
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Steam
To become covered with condensed steam.
The windows steamed up in the cold weather.
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Vapor
A vaporized version of a chemically active compound.
The laboratory was filled with the vapor of the volatile compound.
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Vapor
The gaseous state of a substance that is liquid or solid at room temperature.
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Steam
Hot, pressurized water vapor used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical power.
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Jan 17, 2024
Vapor
A faintly visible suspension of fine particles of matter in the air, as mist, fumes, or smoke.
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Steam
Power generated by the expansion of boiling water as it turns to vapor
An engine at full steam.
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Vapor
A mixture of fine droplets of a substance and air, as the fuel mixture of an internal-combustion engine.
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Steam
Condensed water vapor in the form of a mist or cloud
The steam from the teakettle.
The steam of the oxen's breath in the cold air.
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Vapor
Exhalations within a bodily organ, especially the stomach, supposed to affect the mental or physical condition. Used with the.
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Steam
To become misted or covered with steam
The bathroom mirror steamed over.
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Vapor
To vaporize
“You wished you'd seen one of the monster shots that vapored an atoll way back when” (Don DeLillo).
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Vapor
To engage in idle, boastful talk
Vapored on about his accomplishments.
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Vapor
Cloudy diffused matter such as mist, steam or fumes suspended in the air.
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Steam
The vapor formed when water changes from the liquid phase to the gas phase.
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Vapor
Something insubstantial, fleeting, or transitory; unreal fancy; vain imagination; idle talk; boasting.
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Steam
The suspended condensate (cloud) formed by water vapour when it encounters colder air
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Vapor
(dated) Any medicinal agent designed for administration in the form of inhaled vapour.
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Vapor
Hypochondria; melancholy; the blues; hysteria, or other nervous disorder.
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Steam
Pressurized water vapour used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical energy.
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Vapor
(intransitive) To become vapor; to be emitted or circulated as vapor.
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Steam
(figuratively) Internal energy for motive power.
After three weeks in bed he was finally able to sit up under his own steam.
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Steam
(figuratively) Pent-up anger.
Dad had to go outside to blow off some steam.
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Vapor
Any substance in the gaseous, or aëriform, state, the condition of which is ordinarily that of a liquid or solid.
Vapor is any substance in the gaseous condition at the maximum of density consistent with that condition. This is the strict and proper meaning of the word vapor.
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Vapor
In a loose and popular sense, any visible diffused substance floating in the atmosphere and impairing its transparency, as smoke, fog, etc.
The vapour which that fro the earth glood [glided].
Fire and hail; snow and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling his word.
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Vapor
Something unsubstantial, fleeting, or transitory; unreal fancy; vain imagination; idle talk; boasting.
For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
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Steam
(transitive) To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing.
To steam wood or cloth
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Vapor
A medicinal agent designed for administration in the form of inhaled vapor.
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Steam
(intransitive) To rise in vapour; to issue, or pass off, as vapour.
Our breath steamed in the cold winter air.
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Vapor
To pass off in fumes, or as a moist, floating substance, whether visible or invisible, to steam; to be exhaled; to evaporate.
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Vapor
To emit vapor or fumes.
Running waters vapor not so much as standing waters.
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Vapor
To talk idly; to boast or vaunt; to brag.
Poets used to vapor much after this manner.
We vapor and say, By this time Matthews has beaten them.
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Steam
(intransitive) To be covered with condensed water vapor.
With all the heavy breathing going on the windows were quickly steamed in the car.
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Vapor
To send off in vapor, or as if in vapor; as, to vapor away a heated fluid.
He'd laugh to see one throw his heart away,Another, sighing, vapor forth his soul.
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Steam
(intransitive) To travel by means of steam power.
We steamed around the Mediterranean.
The ship steamed out of the harbour.
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Steam
To move with great or excessive purposefulness.
If he heard of anyone picking the fruit he would steam off and lecture them.
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Vapor
A substance diffused or suspended in the air.
The room was filled with a sweet-smelling vapor.
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Jan 19, 2024
Steam
The elastic, aëriform fluid into which water is converted when heated to the boiling point; water in the state of vapor.
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Steam
The mist formed by condensed vapor; visible vapor; - so called in popular usage.
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Steam
To emit steam or vapor.
My brother's ghost hangs hovering there,O'er his warm blood, that steams into the air.
Let the crude humors danceIn heated brass, steaming with fire intense.
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Steam
To rise in vapor; to issue, or pass off, as vapor.
The dissolved amber . . . steamed away into the air.
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Steam
To move or travel by the agency of steam.
The vessel steamed out of port.
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Steam
To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing; as, to steam wood; to steamcloth; to steam food, etc.
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Steam
Get very angry;
Her indifference to his amorous advances really steamed the young man
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Steam
Cook something by letting steam pass over it;
Just steam the vegetables
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Steam
To move or travel by the power of steam.
The ship steamed across the ocean.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are all vapors visible?
Not necessarily; vapors can be invisible depending on the substance and conditions.
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Feb 23, 2024
Is steam always hot?
Yes, steam is produced from boiling water and is therefore hot.
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What is vapor?
Vapor is the gaseous state of a substance that is usually in a liquid or solid form at room temperature.
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Feb 23, 2024
Can vapor exist at room temperature?
Yes, many substances can vaporize at room temperature.
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Feb 23, 2024
What is steam?
Steam is the vapor formed when water is heated to its boiling point and becomes a gas.
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Feb 23, 2024
Does vapor always come from a liquid?
Vapor can come from liquids or solids, as in sublimation.
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Can vapor be harmful?
It depends on the substance; some vapors can be toxic or hazardous.
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What's the difference between steam and mist?
Mist is made up of tiny water droplets, while steam is the gaseous form of water.
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Does steam always indicate boiling water?
Typically, but steam can also form at lower temperatures under reduced pressure.
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Can steam clean surfaces?
Yes, steam cleaning is effective for sanitization and cleaning.
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Is steam used for power generation?
Yes, steam is often used in power plants and engines for energy.
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Is steam visible?
Steam is often visible as a white mist, though the pure gaseous form is invisible.
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Can both vapor and steam be used in scientific contexts?
Yes, both terms are important in physics and chemistry.
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What is 'dry steam'?
Dry steam is steam without any water droplets, completely in gas form.
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Is there a temperature at which vapor forms?
The temperature varies depending on the substance.
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Can vapor pressure be measured?
Yes, vapor pressure is a key concept in thermodynamics.
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Is vaporization the same as evaporation?
Vaporization includes evaporation (surface phenomenon) and boiling (bulk phenomenon).
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Feb 23, 2024
Is 'vapor' used in medical terms?
Yes, in terms such as vapor inhalation for respiratory therapy.
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Feb 23, 2024
Are vapor and steam the same in cooking?
Not exactly; steam specifically refers to the use of boiling water vapor in cooking.
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Feb 23, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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