STEER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does steer mean? 

• STEER (noun)
  The noun STEER has 2 senses:

1. an indication of potential opportunity

2. castrated bull

  Familiarity information: STEER used as a noun is rare.

• STEER (verb)
  The verb STEER has 3 senses:

1. direct the course; determine the direction of travelling

2. direct (oneself) somewhere

3. be a guiding or motivating force or drive

  Familiarity information: STEER used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STEER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An indication of potential opportunity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

confidential information; hint; lead; steer; tip; wind

Context example:

a good lead for a job

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

counsel; counseling; counselling; direction; guidance (something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action)

Derivation:

steer (be a guiding or motivating force or drive)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Castrated bull

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

bullock; steer

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

Bos taurus; cattle; cows; kine; oxen (domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age)

male (an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes (ova))

• STEER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they steer    ... he / she / it steers   
Past simple: steered   
Past participle: steered   
-ing form: steering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Direct the course; determine the direction of travelling

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

channelise; channelize; direct; guide; head; maneuver; manoeuver; manoeuvre; point; steer

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

command; control (exercise authoritative control or power over)

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

dock (maneuver into a dock)

sheer (cause to sheer)

pull over (steer a vehicle to the side of the road)

helm (be at or take the helm of)

crab (direct (an aircraft) into a crosswind)

navigate (direct carefully and safely)

stand out (steer away from shore, of ships)

starboard (turn to the right, of helms or rudders)

conn (conduct or direct the steering of a ship or plane)

navigate; pilot (act as the navigator in a car, plane, or vessel and plan, direct, plot the path and position of the conveyance)

channel (direct the flow of)

corner; tree (force a person or an animal into a position from which he cannot escape)

park (maneuver a vehicle into a parking space)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

The men steer the boat

Derivation:

steerage (the act of steering a ship)

steerer (the person who steers a ship)

steering (the act of steering a ship)

steering (the act of guiding or showing the way)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Direct (oneself) somewhere

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

Steer clear of him

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

command; control (exercise authoritative control or power over)

"Steer" entails doing...:

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be a guiding or motivating force or drive

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

guide; steer

Context example:

The teacher steered the gifted students towards the more challenging courses

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

direct (be in charge of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

steer (an indication of potential opportunity)

steering (the act of setting and holding a course)

 Context examples 

And she had been steering seven hours!

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I constructed another sail with a part of my dress and eagerly steered my course towards the land.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

We can steer a course, but who's to set one?

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I am a new man this morning; and, as I sit here and watch him sleeping, I can do all that is necessary both as to minding the engine, steering, and keeping watch.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

It was the compass by which he steered and learned to chart the manners of a new land and life.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

We had one violent storm, and were under a necessity of steering westward to get into the trade wind, which holds for above sixty leagues.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Having settled the difficulty of the conflicting doors, he had to steer sharply to the right to avoid the kitchen.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“And ye steer with a rudder, don't ye? It ain't fur off. How is he, sir?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He plodded on with bowed head, unobservant, mechanically rubbing nose and cheeks, and batting his steering hand against the gee-pole in the straight trail-stretches.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Where sharks rove seagrass beds, dugongs and other shark prey species steer clear.

(Sharks, the seagrass protectors, National Science Foundation)