Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

vapourmore about vapour

vapour

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Vapor  \Va"por\,  n.  [OE.  vapour,  OF  vapour,  vapor,  vapeur,  F. 
  vapeur,  L.  vapor;  probably  for  cvapor,  and  akin  to  Gr  ? 
  smoke,  ?  to  breathe  forth,  Lith.  kvepti  to  breathe,  smell, 
  Russ.  kopote  fine  soot.  Cf  {Vapid}.]  [Written  also 
  {vapour}.] 
  1.  (Physics)  Any  substance  in  the  gaseous,  or  a["e]riform, 
  state,  the  condition  of  which  is  ordinarily  that  of  a 
  liquid  or  solid. 
 
  Note:  The  term  vapor  is  sometimes  used  in  a  more  extended 
  sense  as  identical  with  gas;  and  the  difference 
  between  the  two  is  not  so  much  one  of  kind  as  of 
  degree,  the  latter  being  applied  to  all  permanently 
  elastic  fluids  except  atmospheric  air,  the  former  to 
  those  elastic  fluids  which  lose  that  condition  at 
  ordinary  temperatures.  The  atmosphere  contains  more  or 
  less  vapor  of  water,  a  portion  of  which  on  a  reduction 
  of  temperature,  becomes  condensed  into  liquid  water  in 
  the  form  of  rain  or  dew.  The  vapor  of  water  produced  by 
  boiling,  especially  in  its  economic  relations,  is 
  called  steam. 
 
  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.  --Nichol. 
 
  2.  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]. 
  --Chaucer. 
 
  Fire  and  hail;  snow  and  vapors;  stormy  wind 
  fulfilling  his  word  --Ps.  cxlviii 
  8. 
 
  3.  Wind;  flatulence.  [Obs.]  --Bacon. 
 
  4.  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  --James  iv 
  14. 
 
  5.  pl  An  old  name  for  hypochondria,  or  melancholy;  the 
  blues.  ``A  fit  of  vapors.''  --Pope. 
 
  6.  (Pharm.)  A  medicinal  agent  designed  for  administration  in 
  the  form  of  inhaled  vapor.  --Brit.  Pharm. 
 
  {Vapor  bath}. 
  a  A  bath  in  vapor;  the  application  of  vapor  to  the  body, 
  or  part  of  it  in  a  close  place  also  the  place 
  itself 
  b  (Chem.)  A  small  metallic  drying  oven,  usually  of 
  copper,  for  drying  and  heating  filter  papers, 
  precipitates,  etc.;  --  called  also  {air  bath}.  A 
  modified  form  is  provided  with  a  jacket  in  the  outside 
  partition  for  holding  water,  or  other  volatile  liquid, 
  by  which  the  temperature  may  be  limited  exactly  to  the 
  required  degree. 
 
  {Vapor  burner},  a  burner  for  burning  a  vaporized  hydrocarbon. 
 
 
  {Vapor  density}  (Chem.),  the  relative  weight  of  gases  and 
  vapors  as  compared  with  some  specific  standard,  usually 
  hydrogen,  but  sometimes  air.  The  vapor  density  of  gases 
  and  vaporizable  substances  as  compared  with  hydrogen,  when 
  multiplied  by  two  or  when  compared  with  air  and 
  multiplied  by  28.8,  gives  the  molecular  weight. 
 
  {Vapor  engine},  an  engine  worked  by  the  expansive  force  of  a 
  vapor,  esp.  a  vapor  other  than  steam. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Vapor  \Va"por\,  v.  t. 
  To  send  off  in  vapor,  or  as  if  in  vapor;  as  to  vapor  away  a 
  heated  fluid.  [Written  also  {vapour}.] 
 
  He'd  laugh  to  see  one  throw  his  heart  away  Another, 
  sighing,  vapor  forth  his  soul.  --B.  Jonson 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Vapor  \Va"por\,  v.  i.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Vapored};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Vaporing}.]  [From  {Vapor},  n.:  cf  L.  vaporare.]  [Written 
  also  {vapour}.] 
  1.  To  pass  off  in  fumes,  or  as  a  moist,  floating  substance, 
  whether  visible  or  invisible,  to  steam;  to  be  exhaled;  to 
  evaporate. 
 
  2.  To  emit  vapor  or  fumes.  [R.] 
 
  Running  waters  vapor  not  so  much  as  standing  waters. 
  --Bacon. 
 
  3.  To  talk  idly;  to  boast  or  vaunt;  to  brag. 
 
  Poets  used  to  vapor  much  after  this  manner. 
  --Milton. 
 
  We  vapor  and  say  By  this  time  Matthews  has  beaten 
  them  --Walpole. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  vapour 
  n  1:  a  visible  suspension  in  the  air  of  particles  of  some 
  substance  [syn:  {vapor}] 
  2:  the  process  of  becoming  a  vapor  [syn:  {vaporization},  {vaporisation}, 
  {vapor},  {evaporation}]




more about vapour