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definitions

steep

1
[ steep ]
/ stip /
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adjective, steep·er, steep·est.

having 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.

noun

a steep place; declivity, as of a hill.

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RELATED WORDS

arduous, precipitous, hilly, abrupt, sharp, lofty, exorbitant, excessive, dizzying, stiff, sheer, erect, perpendicular, high, elevated, precipitate, raised, lifted, towering, extreme

Nearby words

  1. steelyard,
  2. steen,
  3. steen, jan,
  4. steenbok,
  5. steenbras,
  6. steeped,
  7. steepen,
  8. steeple,
  9. steeple cup,
  10. steeplebush

Origin of steep

1
before 900; Middle English stepe (adj.), Old English stēap; akin to stoop1
Related formssteep·ly, adverbsteep·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for steeper

British Dictionary definitions for steeper

steep

1
/ (stiːp) /

adjective

  1. having or being a slope or gradient approaching the perpendicular
  2. (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 ambitiousa steep task
British informal (of a statement) extreme or far-fetched
obsolete elevated
Derived Formssteeply, adverbsteepness, noun

Word Origin for steep

Old English steap; related to Old Frisian stāp, Old High German stouf cliff, Old Norse staup

steep

2
/ (stiːp) /

verb

to soak or be soaked in a liquid in order to soften, cleanse, extract an element, etc
(tr; usually passive) to saturate; imbuesteeped in ideology

noun

an instance or the process of steeping or the condition of being steeped
a liquid or solution used for the purpose of steeping something
Derived Formssteeper, noun

Word Origin for steep

Old English stēpan; related to steap vessel, cup, Old High German stouf, Old Norse staup, Middle Dutch stōp
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
Word Origin and History for steeper
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper