Vapor VA'POR, n. [L. vapor.] 1. In a general sense, an invisible
elastic fluid, rendered aeriform by heat, and capable of being condensed,
or brought back to the liquid or solid state, by cold. The vapor
of water is distinguished by the name of steam, which see. 2. A
visible fluid floating in the atmosphere. All substances which impair
the transparency of the atmosphere, as smoke, fog, etc. are in common
language called vapors, though the term vapor is technical applied only
to an invisible and condensible substance, as in No. 1; fog, etc. being
vapor condensed, or water in a minute state of division. Vapor rising into
the higher regions of the atmosphere, and condensed in large volumes,
forms clouds. 3. Substances resembling smoke, which sometimes fill
the atmosphere, particularly in America during the autumn. 4. Wind;
flatulence. 5. Mental fume; vain imagination; unreal fancy.
6. Vapors, a disease of nervous debility, in which a variety of strange
images float in the brain, or appear as if visible. Hence hypochondriacal
affections and spleen are called vapors. 7. Something unsubstantial,
fleeting or transitory. For what is your life? It is even a vapor,
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4. VA'POR, v.i. [L. veporo.] 1. To pass off in fumes or a
moist floating substance; to steam; to be exhaled; to evaporate. [In
this sense, evaporate is generally used.] 2. To emit fumes.
Running water vapors not so much as standing water. [Little used.]
3. To bully; to boast or vaunt with a vain ostentatious display of worth;
to brag. [This is the most usual signification of the word.]
And what in real value's wanting, supply with vaporing and ranting. VA'POR, v.t. To emit, cast off or scatter in fumes or stream; as,
to vapor away a heated fluid. Another sighing vapors forth his soul.
vapor I. nounEtymology: Middle English vapour, from Anglo-French
vapor, from Latin, steam, vapor Date: 14th century 1.
diffused matter (as smoke or fog) suspended floating in the air and impairing
its transparency 2.a. a substance in the gaseous state as distinguished from the
liquid or solid state b. a substance (as gasoline, alcohol,
mercury, or benzoin) vaporized for industrial, therapeutic, or military
uses; also a mixture (as the explosive mixture in an internal
combustion engine) of such a vapor with air
3.a. something unsubstantial or transitory ;phantasmb. a foolish or fanciful idea
4.plurala.archaic exhalations of bodily organs
(as the stomach) held to affect the physical or mental condition b.
a depressed or hysterical nervous condition
II. intransitive verb (vapored; vaporing)
Date: 15th century 1.a. to rise or pass off in vapor b. to emit vapor
2. to indulge in bragging, blustering, or idle talk • vaporernoun
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.
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.
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.
VAPOR
va'-per:
(1) edh: "For he draweth up the drops of water, which distill in rain from
his vapor" (Job 36:27); "There went up a mist ['edh] from the earth,
and watered the whole face of the ground" (Ge 2:6).
(2) nasi', "vapor," i.e. that which rises, from nasa', "to lift": "Who
causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth" (Ps 135:7;
compare Jer 10:13; 51:16); also translated "clouds": "as clouds and
wind without rain" (Pr 25:14).
(3) In Job 36:33, the King James Version has "vapour" ("concerning
the vapour") for `alah, alah, "to go up," where the Revised Version (British
and American) reads "concerning the storm that cometh up."
(4) qiTor: "fire and hail, snow and vapor" (Ps 148:8); elsewhere,
"smoke": "The smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace" (Ge
19:28); "I am become like a wineskin in the smoke" (Ps 119:83).
(5) atmis: "blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke" (Ac 2:19); "For
ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away"
(Jas 4:14).
The first two of the preceding quotations are interesting as indicating the
knowledge that vapor of water from the earth or sea is the source of the
rain. Visible vapor, i.e. mist or fog, is much less common in Palestine than
in many other countries. In the mountains, however, especially in Lebanon,
mists are of frequent occurrence, appearing to those below as clouds clinging
to the mountains.
Alfred Ely Day
vapor
I. n.1. Gaseous state (of a substance ordinarily fluid or solid), aeriform state.
2. Fume, steam, reek, exhalation, smoke, fog, mist, rack.
3. Phantom, fantasy, whim, whimsey, vagary, day-dream, vain imagination, unreal fancy,
dream, vision.
II. v. n.
Boast, brag, bluster, swagger, bully, faire claquer son fouet.
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