steer

[steer]

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verb (used with object)

to guide the course of (something in motion) by a rudder, helm, wheel, etc.: to steer a bicycle.

to follow or pursue (a particular course).

to direct the course of; guide: I can steer you to the best restaurant in town.

verb (used without object)

to direct the course of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, or the like, by the use of a rudder or other means.

to pursue a course of action.

(of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, etc.) to be steered or guided in a particular direction or manner.

noun

Informal. a suggestion about a course of action; tip: He got a good steer about finding the right job.

Idioms

steer clear of, to stay away from purposely; avoid: She steered clear of any deep emotional involvements.

Origin of steer

before 900; Middle English steren, Old English stēoran, akin to stēor steering, guidance; cognate with German steuern, Old Norse stȳra, Gothic stiurjan

Related formssteer·a·ble, adjectivesteer·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·steer·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for steer clear of

dodge, avert, sidestep, evade, bypass, escape, shun, despise, disdain, eschew, refuse, snub, reject, scorn, neglect, elude, ignore, circumvent, heed, prevent

British Dictionary definitions for steer clear of

steer

verb

to direct the course of (a vehicle or vessel) with a steering wheel, rudder, etc

(tr) to guide with tuitionhis teachers steered him through his exams

(tr) to direct the movements or course of (a person, conversation, etc)

to pursue (a specified course)

(intr) (of a vessel, vehicle, etc) to admit of being guided in a specified fashionthis boat does not steer properly

steer clear of to keep away from; shun

noun

mainly US information; guidance (esp in the phrase a bum steer)

Derived Formssteerable, adjectivesteerer, noun

Word Origin for steer

Old English stieran; related to Old Frisian stiūra, Old Norse stӯra, German stevern; see starboard, stern ²

steer

noun

a castrated male ox or bull; bullock

Word Origin for steer

Old English stēor; related to Old Norse stjōrr, Gothic stiur, Old High German stior, Middle Dutch stēr

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 steer clear of

steer

"guide the course of a vehicle," Old English steran (Mercian), stieran (West Saxon), from Proto-Germanic *steurijanan (cf. Old Norse styra, Old Frisian stiora, Dutch sturen, Old High German stiuren, German steuern "to steer," Gothic stiurjan "to establish, assert"), related to *steuro "a rudder, a steering" (cf. Old English steor "helm, rudder," German Steuer and first element in starboard), from PIE *steu-ro- (cf. Greek stauros "stake, pole"), from root *sta- "to stand" (see stet).

The notion is of a stiff, upright pillar or post used in steering. To steer clear of in the figurative sense of "to avoid completely" is recorded from 1723. Related: Steered; steering. Steering committee in the U.S. political sense is recorded from 1887.

steer

"young ox," Old English steor "bullock," from Proto-Germanic *steuraz (cf. Old Saxon stior, Old Norse stjorr, Swedish tjur, Danish tyr, Middle Dutch, Dutch, German stier, Gothic stiur "bull"), perhaps from PIE *steu-ro-, a root denoting "strength, sturdiness" (see taurus).

Idioms and Phrases with steer clear of

steer clear of

Stay away from, avoid, as in Dad warned us to steer clear of Dr. Smith and his poor advice. This idiom alludes to guiding a vessel away from some obstacle. Its figurative use was first recorded in 1723.

steer

In addition to the idiom beginning with steer

steer clear of

also see:

bum steer