~ 1
■ noun
1》 a dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in liquid in a closed dish or pan.
2》 informal a state of anxiety or agitation.
3》 archaic a public room used for hot steam baths.
↘a brothel.
■ verb
1》 cook or be cooked slowly in liquid in a closed dish or pan.
↘ Brit. (of tea) become strong and bitter with prolonged brewing.
2》 informal remain in a heated or stifling atmosphere.
↘remain in an anxious or agitated state.
Phrases
~ in one's own juice informal be left to suffer the consequences of one's own actions.
Origin
ME: from OFr. estuve (rel. to estuver 'heat in steam'), prob. based on Gk tuphos 'smoke, steam'.
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~ 2
■ noun Brit.
1》 a pond or large tank for keeping fish for eating.
2》 an artificial oyster bed.
Origin
ME: from OFr. estui , from estoier 'confine'.
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~ 3
■ noun N. Amer. informal an air ~ard or ~ardess.
Origin
1970s: abbrev.