Steep Definition

stēp
steeped, steeper, steepest, steeps
adjective
steeper, steepest
Having a sharp rise or highly inclined slope; precipitous.
A steep incline.
Webster's New World
At a rapid or precipitous rate.
A steep rise in imports.
American Heritage
Unreasonably high or great; exorbitant; excessive.
Steep demands, a steep price.
Webster's New World
Extreme; exaggerated.
A rather steep statement.
Webster's New World
High; lofty.
Webster's New World
noun
steeps
A steep slope or incline.
Webster's New World
The act or process of steeping.
American Heritage
A steeping or being steeped.
Webster's New World
Liquid in which something is steeped.
Webster's New World
A rennet bag.
Wiktionary
verb
steeped, steeps
To be steeped.
Webster's New World
To soak in liquid, so as to soften, clean, extract the essence of, etc.
Webster's New World
To infuse or subject thoroughly to.
American Heritage
To immerse, saturate, absorb, or imbue.
Steeped in folklore.
Webster's New World
To undergo a soaking in liquid.
American Heritage
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Steep

Adjective

Base Form:
steep
Comparative:
steeper
Superlative:
steepest

Origin of Steep

  • From Middle English stepen, from Old Norse steypa (“to make stoop, cast down, pour out, cast (metal)"), from Proto-Germanic *staupijanÄ… (“to tumble, make tumble, plunge"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewb- (“to push, hit"). Cognate with Danish støbe (“cast (metal)"), Norwegian støpe, støype, Swedish stöpa (“to found, cast (metal)"), Old English stÅ«pian (“to stoop, bend the back, slope"). More at stoop.

    From Wiktionary

  • Old English stÄ“ap (“high"), from Proto-Germanic *staupaz (compare Old Frisian stap, Middle High German *stouf), from Proto-Indo-European *steup- (“to push, stick"). The Proto-Indo-European root (related) has many and varied descendants, including English stub; compare also Scots stap (“to strike, to forcibly insert").

    From Wiktionary

  • The sense of “sharp slope" is attested circa 1200; the sense “expensive" is attested US 1856.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English stepen perhaps of Old English origin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English stepe from Old English stēap

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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