steep
1having an almost vertical slope or pitch, or a relatively high gradient, as a hill, an ascent, stairs, etc.
(of a price or amount) unduly high; exorbitant: Those prices are too steep for me.
extreme or incredible, as a statement or story.
high or lofty.
a steep place; declivity, as of a hill.
Origin of steep
1Other words from steep
- steeply, adverb
- steepness, noun
Other definitions for steep (2 of 2)
to soak in water or other liquid in order to soften, cleanse, extract flavor or a particular ingredient, etc.: Pour boiling water over the mint leaves and steep them for 5 minutes.Tapa cloth is made by steeping the thin bark of the paper mulberry tree in water and then scraping and beating it to the desired texture.
to immerse in a particular kind of experience or area of learning, fill or saturate with a particular quality, etc., over a long period: Steep your children in the values of honesty, kindness, dependability, and determination.
to sit soaking in water or other liquid for softening, cleansing, the extraction of a flavor or particular ingredient, etc.: Your tea is steeping.Let the raisins steep for a few days, allowing their natural sweetness to infuse the alcohol.
the act or process of steeping or the state of being steeped (often used attributively): For brewer’s malt, the steep takes a day or two, followed by germination and kilning.I was only giving my cold brew about eight hours of steep time instead of the recommended 16 to 18.
a liquid in which something is steeped: Remove the flax from the steep after five to seven days of soaking.
Origin of steep
2Other words for steep
Other words from steep
- steep·er, noun
- un·steeped, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use steep in a sentence
Which is lucky: we can see the gaps in the disk more clearly than if the disk were at a steeper angle.
The Most Stunning View Ever of Planets Being Born | Matthew R. Francis | November 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThat number still remains below 2000 levels, with renter income falling an even steeper 13 percent.
The Rent Bubble Is Going to Blow Up Across the Country | John Surico | April 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn an age of better, faster, stronger, competition is steep—and getting steeper.
The drop-off is even steeper over the past 30 years: in 1982 the number was 56.4 percent.
How We Read Now: 10 Facts from the National Endowment for the Arts Report | Thomas Flynn | September 26, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe rigged system of redistricting makes her already uphill climb that much steeper.
South Carolina Special Election Has All the Makings of a Scandal-Filled Telenovela | John Avlon | April 3, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The mountain slope had been steadily growing steeper beneath them, and they had not yet reached the bench.
The Gold Trail | Harold BindlossIt was a clean fetch back, but the wind was heavier and the sea steeper than on coming over.
Yachting Vol. 2 | Various.The path dwindled to a mere track, and the climbing became steeper still.
The Animal Story Book | VariousAs the path under the firs grew steeper still, John Willie wondered whether she would have kept her word to him.
Mushroom Town | Oliver OnionsAt length we followed the path up a steeper rise crowned by two chortens between which it passes.
Mount Everest the Reconnaissance, 1921 | Charles Kenneth Howard-Bury
British Dictionary definitions for steep (1 of 2)
/ (stiːp) /
having or being a slope or gradient approaching the perpendicular
(as noun): the steep
informal (of a fee, price, demand, etc) unduly high; unreasonable (esp in the phrase that's a bit steep)
informal excessively demanding or ambitious: a steep task
British informal (of a statement) extreme or far-fetched
obsolete elevated
Origin of steep
1Derived forms of steep
- steeply, adverb
- steepness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for steep (2 of 2)
/ (stiːp) /
to soak or be soaked in a liquid in order to soften, cleanse, extract an element, etc
(tr; usually passive) to saturate; imbue: steeped in ideology
an instance or the process of steeping or the condition of being steeped
a liquid or solution used for the purpose of steeping something
Origin of steep
2Derived forms of steep
- steeper, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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