steam up

If glass does this, tiny drops of water cover it so you cannot see through it clearly.

• My glasses always steam up.
• The mirror steamed up during her shower.
• Why do the car windows keep steaming up?

Similar words: fog up, mist over

Opposites: clear

Common phrases: windows steam up, glasses steam up, steam up quickly

To become full of warm, wet air from hot water.

• The bathroom quickly steamed up.
• Our kitchen steams up when we boil large pots of water.
• Has the whole room steamed up already?

Similar words: fill with steam, become steamy

Common phrases: steam up quickly, bathrooms steam up, steam up completely

To cook food using the hot, wet air rising from boiling water.

• Let's steam up some dumplings.
• She steamed up a basket of vegetables.
• Can you steam up a few buns for lunch?

How to use it: steam up something / steam something up (I'll steam the vegetables up while you cook the rice.)

Similar words: steam

Common phrases: steam up dumplings, steam up vegetables, steam up something

To heat a steam engine or boiler until it has enough steam pressure to work.

• They steam up the engine before dawn.
• The crew steamed up the locomotive for the excursion.
• How long does it take to steam the boiler up?

How to use it: steam up something / steam something up (The crew steamed the boiler up before departure.)

Similar words: raise steam

Common phrases: steam up something, steam up locomotives, steam up boilers, engines steam up