steak

American  

[steyk] / steɪk /

noun

1. a typically thick slice of meat, especially beef, or a thick slice of firm, hearty fish, cooked by broiling, pan-frying, etc.: salmon steaks.

   a sirloin steak;

   salmon steaks.

2. ground or chopped meat prepared in the same manner as a steak.

3. a thick slice of a hearty vegetable or other meaty food: tofu steaks.

   eggplant steaks;

   tofu steaks.

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steak British  

/ steɪk /

noun

1. See beefsteak

2. any of various cuts of beef of varying quality, used for braising, stewing, etc

3. a thick slice of pork, veal, etc, or of a large fish, esp cod or salmon

4. minced meat prepared in the same way as steak

   hamburger steak

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Etymology

Origin of steak

1400–50; late Middle English steike < Old Norse steik meat roasted on a stick

Explanation

If you order steak at a restaurant, you'll probably be served a thick piece of cooked meat. Although most people use the noun steak to mean a slice of grilled or broiled beef, it can be used to talk about any kind of meat or fish. Many people like to cook tuna steaks on the grill or order a medium-rare T-bone steak at a restaurant. Since the fifteenth century, steak has meant "thick slice of meat," from the Old Norse root word steik, "roast meat."

Example Sentences

Slimp: I love steak fajita with flour tortilla, of course, cheese, and guac.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

"Maybe junk food is good," added Trump, who his known for his fondness for burgers, steak and Diet Coke.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

The new dietary guidelines encourage people to consume red meat regularly, and illustrations of steak and ground beef sit prominently at the top of the food pyramid.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Part of that mixture gets blended into a smoky, savory paste before returning to the skillet alongside the remaining tomatoes, chili beans and steak.

From Salon • May 19, 2026

We should grab the radio and call for the plane and go home and eat a hamburger and a malt, maybe eight or ten Cokes, a steak, some roasts and pork chops....

From "The River" by Gary Paulsen