STEEP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does steep mean? 

• STEEP (noun)
  The noun STEEP has 1 sense:

1. a steep place (as on a hill)

  Familiarity information: STEEP used as a noun is very rare.

• STEEP (adjective)
  The adjective STEEP has 3 senses:

1. having a sharp inclination

2. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation

3. of a slope; set at a high angle

  Familiarity information: STEEP used as an adjective is uncommon.

• STEEP (verb)
  The verb STEEP has 2 senses:

1. devote (oneself) fully to

2. let sit in a liquid to extract a flavor or to cleanse

  Familiarity information: STEEP used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STEEP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A steep place (as on a hill)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("steep" is a kind of...):

declension; declination; decline; declivity; descent; downslope; fall (a downward slope or bend)

• STEEP (adjective)

Comparative: steeper   
Superlative: steepest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having a sharp inclination

Context example:

steep cliffs

Similar:

abrupt; precipitous; sharp (extremely steep)

bluff; bold; sheer (very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front)

heavy (sharply inclined)

perpendicular (so steep as to be nearly veritcal)

steepish (somewhat steep)

steep-sided (having very steep sides)

Also:

perpendicular; vertical (at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line)

Antonym:

gradual ((of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt)

Derivation:

steepness (the property possessed by a slope that is very steep)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation

Synonyms:

exorbitant; extortionate; outrageous; steep; unconscionable; usurious

Context example:

unconscionable spending

Similar:

immoderate (beyond reasonable limits)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Of a slope; set at a high angle

Context example:

a steep roof sheds snow

Similar:

high ((literal meaning) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like 'knee-high'))

Derivation:

steepness (the property possessed by a slope that is very steep)

• STEEP (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they steep    ... he / she / it steeps   
Past simple: steeped   
Past participle: steeped   
-ing form: steeping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Devote (oneself) fully to

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

absorb; engross; engulf; immerse; plunge; soak up; steep

Context example:

He immersed himself into his studies

Hypernyms (to "steep" is one way to...):

center; centre; concentrate; focus; pore; rivet (direct one's attention on something)

Verb group:

immerse; plunge (cause to be immersed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "steep"):

drink; drink in (be fascinated or spell-bound by; pay close attention to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Let sit in a liquid to extract a flavor or to cleanse

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

infuse; steep

Context example:

steep the fruit in alcohol

Hypernyms (to "steep" is one way to...):

imbue; soak (fill, soak, or imbue totally)

Verb group:

infuse (undergo the process of infusion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "steep"):

marinade; marinate (soak in marinade)

decoct (steep in hot water)

infuse (undergo the process of infusion)

draw (steep; pass through a strainer)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

steeper (a vessel (usually a pot or vat) used for steeping)

 Context examples 

Julia is steeped in money to the throat, and talks and thinks of nothing else.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The river ran deep and swift up to the steep bank; but there were few boats upon it, and the ships were moored far out in the centre of the stream.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The river descends rapidly and winds between hills, not high, but steep, and of beautiful forms.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The hills which surrounded the cottage terminated the valley in that direction; under another name, and in another course, it branched out again between two of the steepest of them.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Now we both rushed along the corridor and down the steep steps which led to Charles Street.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

An instant later we had reached the same spot, and there was the road beneath us, steep and narrow, winding in long curves into the valley.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Beyond the green swelling hills of the Mittel Land rose mighty slopes of forest up to the lofty steeps of the Carpathians themselves.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The rover had reached this area after a steep climb up a 20-foot (6-meter) hill.

(Curiosity Rover Inspects Unusual Bedrock, NASA)

This lost mine was steeped in tragedy and shrouded in mystery.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

They darken and appear to flow down steep slopes during warm seasons, and then fade in cooler seasons.

(NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today's Mars, NASA)