Smoke vs. Steam
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 18, 2023
Smoke: A collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion. Steam: Water vapor formed by the boiling or evaporation of liquid water.
Key Differences
Smoke is a byproduct of combustion, consisting of various particles, gases, and possibly water vapor. It is often associated with fires, industrial processes, and other activities that involve burning materials. On the contrary, Steam is essentially water vapor that forms when water boils or evaporates. It is generally cleaner and does not carry the contaminants found in smoke.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
In terms of smell, Smoke usually carries a distinct odor depending on what is being burned. It can range from a woody smell in a fireplace to a more acrid aroma when plastics or synthetic materials are involved. Steam is generally odorless unless it has been infused with other substances, such as in aromatherapy.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Smoke is often hazardous to health due to the chemicals and pollutants it contains, including carcinogens. It can be highly toxic and harmful when inhaled, making protective measures necessary in areas with high smoke exposure. Steam, on the other hand, is largely harmless unless it reaches extremely high temperatures, in which case it can cause burns.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Visually, Smoke tends to be grey or black and can obscure vision due to the particles it carries. Steam appears as a white or transparent mist, largely because it is composed of water vapor and does not contain solid particles. The appearance of both can provide clues to their composition.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Grammatically, both Smoke and Steam can function as nouns or verbs. To smoke means to emit smoke, while to steam means to emit or be converted into steam. Both terms have found metaphorical uses as well, like "smoking gun" or "letting off steam."
Samantha Walker
Sep 18, 2023
Comparison Chart
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Smoke and Steam Definitions
Steam
Water vapor from boiled or evaporated water.
The steam rose from the hot springs.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 18, 2023
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Smoke
To consume tobacco or other substances by burning.
He went outside to smoke a cigarette.
Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
Smoke
To preserve or flavor food by exposing it to smoke.
We decided to smoke the salmon.
Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
Steam
To emit or be converted into steam.
The kettle began to steam as the water boiled.
Harlon Moss
Sep 18, 2023
Smoke
A screen of smoke used to obscure or protect.
The military used smoke to cover their retreat.
Samantha Walker
Sep 18, 2023
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Smoke
A mixture of gases and small suspended particles of soot or other solids, resulting from the burning of materials such as wood or coal.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
Hot, pressurized water vapor used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical power.
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Oct 18, 2022
Steam
Power generated by the expansion of boiling water as it turns to vapor
An engine at full steam.
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
Something insubstantial, unreal, or transitory
"What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true to-day may turn out to be falsehood to-morrow, mere smoke of opinion" (Henry David Thoreau).
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
Condensed water vapor in the form of a mist or cloud
The steam from the teakettle.
The steam of the oxen's breath in the cold air.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
(Informal) Tobacco in a form that can be smoked, especially a cigarette
Money to buy smokes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
To become misted or covered with steam
The bathroom mirror steamed over.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
(Baseball) Pitches thrown at high velocity; fast balls
Threw a lot of smoke in the early innings.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To draw in and exhale smoke from a cigarette, cigar, or pipe
It's forbidden to smoke here.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To engage in smoking regularly or habitually
He smoked for years before stopping.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To emit smoke or a smokelike substance
Chimneys smoking in the cold air.
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Oct 18, 2022
Steam
The vapor formed when water changes from the liquid phase to the gas phase.
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To emit smoke excessively
The station wagon smoked even after the tune-up.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
The suspended condensate (cloud) formed by water vapour when it encounters colder air
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To play or perform energetically
The band was really smoking in the second set.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To draw in and exhale the smoke of (tobacco, for example)
I've never smoked a panatela.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
Pressurized water vapour used for heating, cooking, or to provide mechanical energy.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To preserve (meat or fish) by exposure to the aromatic smoke of burning hardwood, usually after pickling in salt or brine.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
(figuratively) Internal energy for motive power.
After three weeks in bed he was finally able to sit up under his own steam.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
(figuratively) Pent-up anger.
Dad had to go outside to blow off some steam.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To expose (animals, especially insects) to smoke in order to immobilize or drive away.
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
(uncountable) The visible vapor/vapour, gases, and fine particles given off by burning or smoldering material.
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Oct 18, 2022
Steam
(transitive) 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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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
Anything to smoke (e.g. cigarettes, marijuana, etc.)
Hey, you got some smoke?
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
(intransitive) To rise in vapour; to issue, or pass off, as vapour.
Our breath steamed in the cold winter air.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
An instance of smoking a cigarette, cigar, etc.; the duration of this act.
I'm going out for a smoke.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
A fleeting illusion; something insubstantial, evanescent, unreal, transitory, or without result.
The excitement behind the new candidate proved to be smoke.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
Something used to obscure or conceal; an obscuring condition; see also smoke and mirrors.
The smoke of controversy.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
(intransitive) To be covered with condensed water vapor.
With all the heavy breathing going on the windows were quickly steamed in the car.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
(intransitive) To travel by means of steam power.
We steamed around the Mediterranean.
The ship steamed out of the harbour.
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Oct 18, 2022
Steam
To move with great or excessive purposefulness.
If he heard of anyone picking the fruit he would steam off and lecture them.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
A particulate of solid or liquid particles dispersed into the air on the battlefield to degrade enemy ground or for aerial observation. Smoke has many uses--screening smoke, signaling smoke, smoke curtain, smoke haze, and smoke deception. Thus it is an artificial aerosol.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
(countable) A distinct column of smoke, such as indicating a burning area or fire.
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Oct 18, 2022
Steam
The elastic, aëriform fluid into which water is converted when heated to the boiling point; water in the state of vapor.
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
(transitive) To inhale and exhale the smoke from a burning cigarette, cigar, pipe, etc.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
The mist formed by condensed vapor; visible vapor; - so called in popular usage.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
(intransitive) To give off smoke.
My old truck was still smoking even after the repairs.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
To emit steam or vapor.
My brother's ghost hangs hovering there,O'er his warm blood, that steams into the air.
Let the crude humors danceIn heated brass, steaming with fire intense.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
(intransitive) Of a fire in a fireplace: to emit smoke outward instead of up the chimney, owing to imperfect draught.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
To rise in vapor; to issue, or pass off, as vapor.
The dissolved amber . . . steamed away into the air.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
(transitive) To preserve or prepare (food) for consumption by treating with smoke.
You'll need to smoke the meat for several hours.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
To move or travel by the agency of steam.
The vessel steamed out of port.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
To expose to the action of steam; to apply steam to for softening, dressing, or preparing; as, to steam wood; to steamcloth; to steam food, etc.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To perform (e.g. music) energetically or skillfully.
The horn section was really smokin' on that last tune.
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Oct 18, 2022
Steam
Get very angry;
Her indifference to his amorous advances really steamed the young man
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Steam
A force generated by the application of steam.
The steam engine revolutionized transportation.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 18, 2023
Steam
To be covered in a mist of water droplets.
The bathroom started to steam up during the shower.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Smoke
To punish (a person) for a minor offense by excessive physical exercise.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
(transitive) To cover (a key blank) with soot or carbon to aid in seeing the marks made by impressioning.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
The visible exhalation, vapor, or substance that escapes, or expelled, from a burning body, especially from burning vegetable matter, as wood, coal, peat, or the like.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To emit smoke; to throw off volatile matter in the form of vapor or exhalation; to reek.
Hard by a cottage chimney smokes.
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
Hence, to burn; to be kindled; to rage.
The anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke agains. that man.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To raise a dust or smoke by rapid motion.
Proud of his steeds, he smokes along the field.
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To draw into the mouth the smoke of tobacco burning in a pipe or in the form of a cigar, cigarette, etc.; to habitually use tobacco in this manner.
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To suffer severely; to be punished.
Some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To apply smoke to; to hang in smoke; to disinfect, to cure, etc., by smoke; as, to smoke or fumigate infected clothing; to smoke beef or hams for preservation.
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To smell out; to hunt out; to find out; to detect.
I aloneSmoked his true person, talked with him.
He was first smoked by the old Lord Lafeu.
Upon that . . . I began to smoke that they were a parcel of mummers.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To inhale and puff out the smoke of, as tobacco; to burn or use in smoking; as, to smoke a pipe or a cigar.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
To subject to the operation of smoke, for the purpose of annoying or driving out; - often with out; as, to smoke a woodchuck out of his burrow.
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
A hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion;
The fire produced a tower of black smoke that could be seen for miles
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
An indication of some hidden activity;
With all that smoke there must be a fire somewhere
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
Something with no concrete substance;
His dreams all turned to smoke
It was just smoke and mirrors
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
The act of smoking tobacco or other substances;
He went outside for a smoke
Smoking stinks
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Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
(baseball) a pitch thrown with maximum velocity;
He swung late on the fastball
He showed batters nothing but smoke
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
Smoke
Inhale and exhale smoke from cigarettes, cigars, pipes;
We never smoked marijuana
Do you smoke?
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 18, 2022
FAQs
Is Smoke dangerous?
Smoke can be hazardous due to the chemicals and pollutants it contains.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Is Steam dangerous?
Steam is generally harmless unless extremely hot, where it can cause burns.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Are there metaphorical uses for "Steam"?
Yes, like "letting off steam" to denote emotional release.
Harlon Moss
Sep 18, 2023
What is Smoke?
Smoke is a byproduct of combustion consisting of airborne particulates and gases.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Does Steam have a smell?
Steam is generally odorless unless infused with other substances.
Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
Can "Smoke" be a verb?
Yes, "to smoke" can mean to emit smoke or to consume substances by burning.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Is Smoke always black?
No, Smoke's color can vary depending on the source material.
Janet White
Sep 18, 2023
Can you see through Steam?
Steam is generally transparent or white mist and does not obscure vision.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 18, 2023
Does Smoke have a smell?
Yes, Smoke carries a distinct odor depending on what is burned.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
What's the main difference between Smoke and Steam?
Smoke is a byproduct of combustion, while Steam is water vapor formed from boiling or evaporating water.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Can "Steam" be a verb?
Yes, "to steam" can mean to emit steam or to cook food using steam.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 18, 2023
Are there metaphorical uses for "Smoke"?
Yes, like "smoke and mirrors" to denote deception.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 18, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
