steep

== English == === Pronunciation === enPR: stēp, IPA(key): /stiːp/ Rhymes: -iːp === Etymology 1 === From Middle English steep, from Old English stēap (“high”), from Proto-Germanic *staupaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewp- (“to push, stick”). Compare Old Frisian stāp ("high, towering"; > Modern Saterland Frisian stiep (“steep”)), Dutch stoop (“grand; proud”), Middle High German stouf (“towering cliff, precipice”), Middle High German stief (“steep”)). The Proto-Indo-European root (and related) has many and varied descendants, including English stub; compare also Scots stap (“to strike, to forcibly insert”). The sense of “sharp slope” is attested circa 1200; the sense “expensive” is attested US 1856. ==== Adjective ==== steep (comparative steeper, superlative steepest) Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical. Synonyms: brant (dialectal), hilly Antonyms: shallow, gentle, easy (informal) Expensive. Synonyms: costly, pricey, spendy; see also Thesaurus:expensive (obsolete) Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high. (of the rake of a ship's mast, or a car's windshield) resulting in a mast or windshield angle that strongly diverges from the perpendicular. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== steep (plural steeps) The steep side of a mountain etc.; a slope or acclivity. === Etymology 2 === From Middle English stepen, from Old Norse steypa (“to make stoop, cast down, pour out, cast (metal)”), from Proto-Germanic *staupijaną (“to tumble, make tumble, plunge”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewb- (“to push, hit”). Cognate with Danish støbe (“cast (metal)”), Norwegian støpe, støype, Swedish stöpa (“to found, cast (metal)”), Old English stūpian (“to stoop, bend the back, slope”). Related to stoop. ==== Verb ==== steep (third-person singular simple present steeps, present participle steeping, simple past and past participle steeped) (transitive, middle voice) To soak or wet thoroughly. To make tea (or other beverages) by soaking leaves in water, which flavors the water. (intransitive, figurative) To imbue with something; to be deeply immersed in. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== steep (countable and uncountable, plural steeps) A liquid used in a steeping process A rennet bag. ===== Translations ===== === References === === Anagrams === teeps, petes, Estep, tepes, Tepes, Peets, peets, speet