vapor

steam

noun bah-POHR Less Common

Origin: From Latin vapor, vaporis.

Also means

steamship

Usage Note

Vapor means steam or vapour in physics and cooking (cocinar al vapor = to steam-cook). Historically it also meant steamship (el vapor = the steamer), a usage still found in historical texts. Al vapor is a fixed culinary phrase. Do not confuse with vaporoso (vaporous, misty) or vaporizador (vaporiser/spray bottle).

Examples

"Las verduras se cocinan mejor al vapor."

Natural Translation

Vegetables are better cooked steamed.

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