I. ˈvāpə(r) noun
( -s )
Usage: see -or
Etymology: Middle English vapour, from Middle French vapeur, from Latin vapor steam, vapor — more at covet
1. : diffused matter (as smoke, fog, mist, steam, or an exhalation) suspended floating in the air and impairing its transparency
cold motors turning over and the vapor from the exhausts steaming — R.H.Newman
2.
a. : a substance in the gaseous state as distinguished from the liquid or solid state : a gasified liquid or solid : a gaseous substance that is at a temperature below its critical temperature and therefore liquefiable by pressure alone
b. : a substance (as gasoline, alcohol, mercury, or benzoin) vaporized for industrial, thereapeutic, or military uses ; also : a mixture (as in an internal-combustion engine) of such a vapor with air
3.
a. archaic : something unsubstantial or transitory
beyond the vapors of her sleep she would hear a night-passer, … a car on the road — Elizabeth M. Roberts
b. : a foolish or fanciful notion : a fantastic idea
his realities may seem most impalpable vapors — G.W.Brace
what amazing vapors a lonely man may get into his head — H.G.Wells
4. vapors plural
a. archaic : exhalations of bodily organs (as the stomach) held to affect the physical or mental condition
b. : a depressed or hysterical nervous condition formerly held to be caused by bodily exhalations
neurotic women subject to the vapors — Lois & Don Thorburn
had a fit of the vapors, shortly after breakfast — James Reynolds
5. : a medicinal agent designed for administration in the form of inhaled vapor
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English vapouren, from vapour vapor
transitive verb
1. : to send in or as if in vapor : cause to evaporate : reduce to vapor
vapor away a heated fluid
2.
a. : to assert or boast loudly or foolishly : utter in high-flown language
b. archaic : to overcome by highflown or bombastic language : bully
3. archaic : to affect with the vapors : depress , bore
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to rise in vapor : pass off as vapor : evaporate
could see his breath and my own vaporing … in the freezing air — H.E.Bates
b. : to emit vapor : fume , steam
running waters vapor not so much as standing waters — Francis Bacon
2. : to indulge in bragging, blustering, or idle talk : speak or write in a pompous or inflated style