vapour

Everyday

1. Vapour is a gas made when a liquid is heated or evaporates, especially water vapour. tree →
2. Vapour is tiny drops of liquid in the air that you can see, like mist or steam. tree →

In the lessons

In science and the water cycle, water evaporates into water vapour, which rises, cools and condenses into clouds, then falls as rain. Water vapour itself is invisible; the white «steam» from a kettle is tiny drops that have already condensed. In safety, hot vapour (steam) burns; vapours from glue, paint or cleaning products can be harmful, so use them in fresh air.

Examples

• Water turns into water vapour when it is heated. tree →
• Clouds form when water vapour cools. tree →
• The window was misty with vapour from the shower. tree →
• Hot vapour from the kettle can burn you. tree →
• Open a window to let the paint vapour out. tree →
• Water vapour is a gas. tree →
• The cold glass was covered in drops from the vapour in the air. tree →
• Evaporation turns liquid into vapour. tree →
• Almost unconsciously he opened it, and a purple vapour came pouring out. tree →

Note

British, Canadian, Australian, NZ and Irish spelling: «vapour»; American: «vapor». Uncountable. Trap: you cannot see water vapour; what you see as steam or clouds is liquid droplets. Verb: «evaporate»; the opposite change is «condense».

In Jewish tradition

It means mist or steam that rises and forms clouds and rain. In the Psalms it is one of the natural things that obey God's word.

Interpretation. Tradition sees the water cycle as showing God's care for the world, and Jews pray for rain in its season.

Examples

• Fire and hail, snow and vapour, stormy wind, fulfilling His word; (Writings PSA.148.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• For He draweth away the drops of water, which distil rain from His vapour; (Writings JOB.36.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• As vapours and wind without rain, so is he that boasteth himself of a false gift. (Writings PRO.25.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

British, Canadian, Australian, NZ and Irish spelling: «vapour»; American: «vapor». Uncountable. Trap: you cannot see water vapour; what you see as steam or clouds is liquid droplets. Verb: «evaporate»; the opposite change is «condense».