'To raise steam' definitions:

Definition of 'To raise steam'

From: GCIDE
  • Raise \Raise\ (r[=a]z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raised (r[=a]zd); p. pr. & vb. n. Raising.] [OE. reisen, Icel. reisa, causative of r[imac]sa to rise. See Rise, and cf. Rear to raise.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. To cause to rise; to bring from a lower to a higher place; to lift upward; to elevate; to heave; as, to raise a stone or weight. Hence, figuratively: [1913 Webster] (a) To bring to a higher condition or situation; to elevate in rank, dignity, and the like; to increase the value or estimation of; to promote; to exalt; to advance; to enhance; as, to raise from a low estate; to raise to office; to raise the price, and the like. [1913 Webster]
  • This gentleman came to be raised to great titles. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]
  • The plate pieces of eight were raised three pence in the piece. --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster] (b) To increase the strength, vigor, or vehemence of; to excite; to intensify; to invigorate; to heighten; as, to raise the pulse; to raise the voice; to raise the spirits or the courage; to raise the heat of a furnace. [1913 Webster] (c) To elevate in degree according to some scale; as, to raise the pitch of the voice; to raise the temperature of a room. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To cause to rise up, or assume an erect position or posture; to set up; to make upright; as, to raise a mast or flagstaff. Hence: [1913 Webster] (a) To cause to spring up from a recumbent position, from a state of quiet, or the like; to awaken; to arouse. [1913 Webster]
  • They shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. --Job xiv. 12. [1913 Webster] (b) To rouse to action; to stir up; to incite to tumult, struggle, or war; to excite. [1913 Webster]
  • He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind. --Ps. cvii. 25. [1913 Webster]
  • Aeneas . . . employs his pains, In parts remote, to raise the Tuscan swains. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] (c) To bring up from the lower world; to call up, as a spirit from the world of spirits; to recall from death; to give life to. [1913 Webster]
  • Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead ? --Acts xxvi. 8. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To cause to arise, grow up, or come into being or to appear; to give rise to; to originate, produce, cause, effect, or the like. Hence, specifically: [1913 Webster] (a) To form by the accumulation of materials or constituent parts; to build up; to erect; as, to raise a lofty structure, a wall, a heap of stones. [1913 Webster]
  • I will raise forts against thee. --Isa. xxix. 3. [1913 Webster] (b) To bring together; to collect; to levy; to get together or obtain for use or service; as, to raise money, troops, and the like. "To raise up a rent." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] (c) To cause to grow; to procure to be produced, bred, or propagated; to grow; as, to raise corn, barley, hops, etc.; toraise cattle. "He raised sheep." "He raised wheat where none grew before." --Johnson's Dict. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: In some parts of the United States, notably in the Southern States, raise is also commonly applied to the rearing or bringing up of children. [1913 Webster]
  • I was raised, as they say in Virginia, among the mountains of the North. --Paulding. [1913 Webster] (d) To bring into being; to produce; to cause to arise, come forth, or appear; -- often with up. [1913 Webster]
  • I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee. --Deut. xviii. 18. [1913 Webster]
  • God vouchsafes to raise another world From him [Noah], and all his anger to forget. --Milton. [1913 Webster] (e) To give rise to; to set agoing; to occasion; to start; to originate; as, to raise a smile or a blush. [1913 Webster]
  • Thou shalt not raise a false report. --Ex. xxiii. 1. [1913 Webster] (f) To give vent or utterance to; to utter; to strike up. [1913 Webster]
  • Soon as the prince appears, they raise a cry. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] (g) To bring to notice; to submit for consideration; as, to raise a point of order; to raise an objection. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To cause to rise, as by the effect of leaven; to make light and spongy, as bread. [1913 Webster]
  • Miss Liddy can dance a jig, and raise paste. --Spectator. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Naut.) (a) To cause (the land or any other object) to seem higher by drawing nearer to it; as, to raise Sandy Hook light. (b) To let go; as in the command, Raise tacks and sheets, i. e., Let go tacks and sheets. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Law) To create or constitute; as, to raise a use, that is, to create it. --Burrill. [1913 Webster]
  • To raise a blockade (Mil.), to remove or break up a blockade, either by withdrawing the ships or forces employed in enforcing it, or by driving them away or dispersing them.
  • To raise a check, note, bill of exchange, etc., to increase fraudulently its nominal value by changing the writing, figures, or printing in which the sum payable is specified.
  • To raise a siege, to relinquish an attempt to take a place by besieging it, or to cause the attempt to be relinquished.
  • To raise steam, to produce steam of a required pressure.
  • To raise the wind, to procure ready money by some temporary expedient. [Colloq.]
  • To raise Cain, or To raise the devil, to cause a great disturbance; to make great trouble. [Slang] [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: To lift; exalt; elevate; erect; originate; cause; produce; grow; heighten; aggravate; excite. [1913 Webster]