head of steam
Accumulated driving force
A head of steam is the pressure built up in a steam engine's boiler, enabling it to do work.
The phrase now appears almost exclusively in its figurative sense: momentum or energy gathered toward a goal.
The campaign built up a head of steam in the final weeks.
Once she gets a head of steam going, there's no stopping her.
Rate velocity changes
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- thrustForceful forward motion
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
- impetusForce initiating action
drive · surge · inertia · locomotion · motion · kinetics · dynamics · roll
Water-heating vessel
- locomotiveRailway pulling machine
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- pistonReciprocating cylinder component
- cylinderCircular-based solid form
valve · gauge · pressure · vapor · condensation · evaporation · combustion · expansion
Forward movement or promotion
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- innovationCreating something original
- transformationThorough change in form
growth · improvement · escalation · expansion · gaining traction · building momentum · moving forward · on a roll
acceleration
Rate velocity changes
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- thrustForceful forward motion
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
impetus · drive · surge · inertia · locomotion · motion · kinetics · dynamics · roll · advance
boiler
Water-heating vessel
- locomotiveRailway pulling machine
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- pistonReciprocating cylinder component
cylinder · valve · gauge · pressure · vapor · condensation · evaporation · combustion · expansion · kettle
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- innovationCreating something original
transformation · growth · improvement · escalation · expansion · gaining traction · building momentum · moving forward · on a roll · making headway
head of steaminertia
Resistance to altered motion
standstill · stagnation · dead stop · grinding halt · stasis
head of steamapathy
Absence of feeling
listlessness · indifference · deflation · burnout · malaise
head, heads, headed, heading, headings, header, headers, headless, headfirst