A steamer is a ship powered by a steam engine rather than wind or human effort. In the 1800s, steamers revolutionized ocean travel because they could move against the wind and travel on predictable schedules, something sailing ships could never do reliably. Instead of waiting weeks for favorable winds, a steamer could cross the Atlantic in just days, changing how people traveled and did business around the world.

Steam engines work by heating water until it turns into steam, which creates pressure that drives machinery. On a steamer, this power turned large paddle wheels on the ship's sides or a propeller at the back. The famous Titanic was a steamer, as were the riverboats that once carried passengers and cargo up and down the Mississippi River.

The word also refers to a device used for cooking food with steam. A vegetable steamer holds food above boiling water so the rising steam cooks it gently, keeping vegetables crisp and flavorful instead of soggy. You might also use a steamer to remove wrinkles from clothes by applying hot steam to the fabric.