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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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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Origin of steep
1OTHER WORDS FROM steep
steeply, adverbsteepness, nounDefinition for steep (2 of 2)
steep2
[ steep ]
/ stip /
verb (used with object)
to soak in water or other liquid, as to soften, cleanse, or extract some constituent: to steep tea in boiling-hot water; to steep reeds for basket weaving.
to wet thoroughly in or with a liquid; drench; saturate; imbue.
to immerse in or saturate or imbue with some pervading, absorbing, or stupefying influence or agency: an incident steeped in mystery.
verb (used without object)
to lie soaking in a liquid.
noun
the act or process of steeping or the state of being steeped.
a liquid in which something is steeped.
Origin of steep
21350–1400; (v.) Middle English stepen< ?; compare Swedish stöpa; (noun) late Middle English stepe, derivative of the v.
OTHER WORDS FROM steep
steeper, nounun·steeped, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for steep
British Dictionary definitions for steep (1 of 2)
steep1
/ (stiːp) /
adjective
- 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 ambitiousa steep task
British informal (of a statement) extreme or far-fetched
obsolete elevated
Derived forms of steep
steeply, adverbsteepness, nounWord Origin for steep
Old English steap; related to Old Frisian stāp, Old High German stouf cliff, Old Norse staup
British Dictionary definitions for steep (2 of 2)
steep2
/ (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 forms of steep
steeper, nounWord 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
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