vapour

 
Pronunciation: /ˈveɪpə/
(US vapor)

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] a substance diffused or suspended in the air, especially one normally liquid or solid: dense clouds of smoke and toxic vapour [count noun]: petrol vapours
  • [count noun] Physics a gaseous substance that is below its critical temperature, and can therefore be liquefied by pressure alone. Compare with gas
  • 2 (the vapours) dated a sudden feeling of faintness or nervousness or a state of depression: a fit of the vapours

verb

[no object]
  • talk in a vacuous, boasting, or pompous way: he was vapouring on about the days of his youth

Derivatives

vaporous

adjective

vaporousness

noun

vapourish

adjective ( archaic)

vapoury

adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin vapor 'steam, heat'. The current verb sense dates from the early 17th century

Spelling help

Spell vapour with -our at the end (the spelling vapor is American).