steep
1[ steep ]
/ stip /
Save This Word!
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.
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
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
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012