Main Difference
The main difference between Gas and Steam is that the Gas is a gaseous object and water in the gas phase, which is formed when water boils. Steam is invisible; however, “steam” often refers to wet steam, the visible mist or aerosol of water droplets formed as this water vapour condenses.
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Gas
Gas is one of the four fundamental states of matter (the others being solid, liquid, and plasma). A pure gas may be made up of individual atoms (e.g. a noble gas like neon), elemental molecules made from one type of atom (e.g. oxygen), or compound molecules made from a variety of atoms (e.g. carbon dioxide). A gas mixture would contain a variety of pure gases much like the air. What distinguishes a gas from liquids and solids is the vast separation of the individual gas particles. This separation usually makes a colorless gas invisible to the human observer. The interaction of gas particles in the presence of electric and gravitational fields are considered negligible, as indicated by the constant velocity vectors in the image.
The gaseous state of matter is found between the liquid and plasma states, the latter of which provides the upper temperature boundary for gases. Bounding the lower end of the temperature scale lie degenerative quantum gases which are gaining increasing attention. High-density atomic gases super cooled to incredibly low temperatures are classified by their statistical behavior as either a Bose gas or a Fermi gas. For a comprehensive listing of these exotic states of matter see list of states of matter.
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Steam
Steam is water in the gas phase, which is formed when water boils or evaporates. Steam is invisible; however, “steam” often refers to wet steam, the visible mist or aerosol of water droplets formed as this water vapour condenses. At lower pressures, such as in the upper atmosphere or at the top of high mountains, water boils at a lower temperature than the nominal 100 °C (212 °F) at standard pressure. If heated further it becomes superheated steam.
The enthalpy of vaporization is the energy required to turn water into the gaseous form when it increases in volume by 1,700 times at standard temperature and pressure; this change in volume can be converted into mechanical work by steam engines such as reciprocating piston type engines and steam turbines, which are a sub-group of steam engines. Piston type steam engines played a central role to the Industrial Revolution and modern steam turbines are used to generate more than 80% of the world’s electricity. If liquid water comes in contact with a very hot surface or depressurizes quickly below its vapor pressure, it can create a steam explosion.
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Gas (noun)
Matter in a state intermediate between liquid and plasma that can be contained only if it is fully surrounded by a solid (or in a bubble of liquid) (or held together by gravitational pull); it can condense into a liquid, or can (rarely) become a solid directly.
“A lot of gas had escaped from the cylinder.”
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Gas (noun)
A chemical element or compound in such a state.
“The atmosphere is made up of a number of different gases.”
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Gas (noun)
A flammable gaseous hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture (typically predominantly methane) used as a fuel, e.g. for cooking, heating, electricity generation or as a fuel in internal combustion engines in vehicles.
“Gas-fired power stations have largely replaced coal-burning ones.”
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Gas (noun)
A hob on a gas cooker.
“She turned the gas on, put the potatoes on, then lit the oven.”
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Gas (noun)
Methane or other waste gases trapped in one’s belly as a result of the digestive process.
“My tummy hurts so bad, I have gas.”
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Gas (noun)
A humorous or entertaining event or person.
“He is such a gas!”
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Gas (noun)
A fastball.
“The closer threw him nothing but gas.”
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Gas (noun)
Arterial or venous blood gas.
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Gas (noun)
Gasoline; a derivative of petroleum used as fuel.
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Gas (noun)
Gas pedal.
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Gas (verb)
To gas.
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Gas (verb)
To talk, chat.
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Gas (verb)
To emit gas.
“The battery cell was gassing.”
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Gas (verb)
To impregnate with gas.
“to gas lime with chlorine in the manufacture of bleaching powder”
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Gas (verb)
To singe, as in a gas flame, so as to remove loose fibers.
“to gas thread”
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Gas (verb)
To give a vehicle more fuel in order to accelerate it.
“The cops are coming. Gas it!”
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Gas (verb)
To fill (a vehicle’s fuel tank) with fuel.
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Gas (adjective)
comical, zany; fun, amusing
“Mary’s new boyfriend is a gas man.”
“It was gas when the bird flew into the classroom.”
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Steam (noun)
The vapor formed when water changes from liquid phase to gas phase.
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Steam (noun)
Pressurized water vapour used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical energy.
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Steam (noun)
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 (noun)
Pent-up anger.
“Dad had to go outside to blow off some steam.”
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Steam (noun)
A steam-powered vehicle.
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Steam (noun)
Travel by means of a steam-powered vehicle.
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Steam (noun)
Any exhalation.
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Steam (noun)
Fencing without the use of any electric equipment.
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Steam (verb)
To cook with steam.
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Steam (verb)
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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Steam (verb)
To produce or vent steam.
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Steam (verb)
To rise in vapour; to issue, or pass off, as vapour.
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Steam (verb)
To become angry; to fume; to be incensed.
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Steam (verb)
To make angry.
“It really steams me to see her treat him like that.”
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Steam (verb)
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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Steam (verb)
To travel by means of steam power.
“We steamed around the Mediterranean.”
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Steam (verb)
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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Steam (verb)
To exhale.
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Steam (adjective)
Old-fashioned; from before the digital age.
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Gas (noun)
a substance or matter in a state in which it will expand freely to fill the whole of a container, having no fixed shape (unlike a solid) and no fixed volume (unlike a liquid)
“hot balls of gas that become stars”
“poisonous gases”
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Gas (noun)
a gaseous substance that cannot be liquefied by the application of pressure alone.
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Gas (noun)
a flammable gas used as a fuel
“cooking is done by bottled gas”
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Gas (noun)
a gaseous anaesthetic such as nitrous oxide, used in dentistry.
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Gas (noun)
gas or vapour used as a poisonous agent in warfare
“gas was one of the most dreaded weapons of the war”
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Gas (noun)
gas generated in the alimentary canal; flatulence.
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Gas (noun)
an explosive mixture of firedamp with air.
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Gas (noun)
short for gasoline
“we stopped for gas”
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Gas (noun)
used in reference to power or the accelerator of a car
“I ordered my friend to step on the gas”
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Gas (noun)
an entertaining or amusing person or situation
“the party would be a gas”
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Gas (noun)
enjoyment, amusement, or fun
“it was great gas in the club last night”
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Gas (verb)
kill or harm by exposure to gas
“my son was gassed at Verdun”
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Gas (verb)
(of a storage battery or dry cell) give off gas
“the maintenance-free charger controls the input without inducing gassing”
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Gas (verb)
talk excessively about trivial matters
“I thought you’d never stop gassing”
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Gas (verb)
fill the tank of (a motor vehicle) with petrol
“after gassing up the car, he went into the restaurant”
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Gas (adjective)
very amusing or entertaining
“Ruthie, that’s gas—you’re a gem”
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Steam (noun)
the vapour into which water is converted when heated, forming a white mist of minute water droplets in the air
“a cloud of steam”
“she wiped the steam off the mirror”
“steam was rising from the mugs of coffee”
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Steam (noun)
the invisible gaseous form of water, formed by boiling, from which this vapour condenses.
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Steam (noun)
the expansive force of steam used as a source of power for machines
“a steam locomotive”
“the equipment was originally powered by steam”
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Steam (noun)
locomotives and railway systems powered by steam
“we were trainspotters in the last years of steam”
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Steam (noun)
energy and momentum or impetus
“the anti-corruption drive gathered steam”
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Steam (verb)
give off or produce steam
“a mug of coffee was steaming at her elbow”
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Steam (verb)
become or cause something to become covered or misted over with steam
“the warm air had begun to steam up the windows”
“the glass keeps steaming up”
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Steam (verb)
cook (food) by heating it in steam from boiling water
“steam the vegetables until just tender”
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Steam (verb)
(of food) cook by heating in steam
“leave the mussels to steam”
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Steam (verb)
clean or otherwise treat with steam
“he steamed his shirts to remove the odour”
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Steam (verb)
apply steam to (something fixed with adhesive) so as to open or loosen it
“he’d steamed the letter open and then resealed it”
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Steam (verb)
(of a ship or train) travel somewhere under steam power
“the 11.54 steamed into the station”
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Steam (verb)
come, go, or move somewhere rapidly or in a forceful way
“Jeremy steamed in ten minutes late”
“the company has steamed ahead with its investment programme”
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Steam (verb)
start or join a fight
“he’ll be the one to throw the first punch, then run to the back when the others steam in”
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Steam (verb)
(of a gang of thieves) move rapidly through a public place, stealing things or robbing people on the way
“steaming is not restricted to tube trains”
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Steam (verb)
generate steam in and operate (a steam locomotive)
“you can learn the intricacies of steaming a locomotive for the first time”
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Steam (verb)
be or become extremely agitated or angry
“you got all steamed up over nothing!”
“after steaming behind the closed door in his office, he came out and screamed at her”