vapeur

steam

noun vah-PUHR Rare

Also means

vapour

Usage Note

Vapeur is feminine (la vapeur) in most uses; the now-rare phrase un bateau à vapeur (a steamboat) uses the masculine un vapeur as a noun meaning steamship. Cuit à la vapeur (steamed) is a standard cooking term. The derived verb vaporiser (to spray/vaporise) is common in cosmetics and chemistry.

Examples

"Les légumes sont cuits à la vapeur."

Natural Translation

The vegetables are steamed.

Literal Translation

The vegetables are cooked in steam.

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