Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large, powered excavating machine: A "steam shovel" is a type of power shovel, a heavy-duty machine used for digging and moving large quantities of earth, rock, or other materials.
   • Historically steam-powered: The defining characteristic is that it is driven by a steam engine, which was common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries before being replaced by diesel and electric power.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The construction of the canal relied on massive steam shovels to move the earth.
  • The old steam shovel at the museum is a fascinating relic of the industrial age.
  • They used a steam shovel to dig the foundation for the new building.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The term "steam shovel" is often used in historical or industrial contexts to describe early excavation machinery. Modern equivalents are simply called "power shovels" or "excavators."
  • The invention of the steam shovel revolutionized large-scale construction and mining.

Variants and Related Words

• Power shovel (n): A general term for any mechanically powered digging machine, which includes modern diesel and hydraulic excavators.
  • Today, the power shovel on the construction site is operated by hydraulics.
• Excavator (n): A modern machine that performs a similar digging function, typically using a hydraulic system.
  • The excavator quickly dug a trench for the pipes.

Synonyms

• Mechanical shovel: A general synonym emphasizing the machine's function.
• Steam navvy (British English, dated): An older, chiefly British term for a steam-powered excavating machine.

Related Phrases

• To work like a steam shovel: An informal phrase suggesting someone eats or works with great speed and capacity.
  • After the game, he ate his dinner like a steam shovel.

Noun

1. a power shovel that is driven by steam