steep

steep

steep¹ [stēp]

adj.

[ME < OE steap, lofty, high, akin to OFris steep, MHG stouf, cliff (as in Ger Hohenstaufen) < IE * steup- < base * (s)teu-, to strike, butt > STOCK, STUB, L tundere, to strike]

1. having a sharp rise or highly inclined slope; precipitous [a steep incline]

2. Informal

a) unreasonably high or great; exorbitant; excessive [steep demands, a steep price]

b) extreme; exaggerated [a rather steep statement]

3. Obs. high; lofty

n.

a steep slope or incline

steeply

adv.

steepness

n.

SYN.- STEEP¹ suggests such sharpness of rise or slope as to make ascent or descent very difficult [a steep hill ]; ABRUPT implies a sharper degree of inclination in a surface breaking off suddenly from the level [an abrupt bank at the river's edge ]; PRECIPITOUS suggests the abrupt and headlong drop of a precipice [a precipitous height ]; SHEER² applies to that which is perpendicular, or almost so, and unbroken throughout its length [cliffs falling sheer to the sea ]

steep² [stēp]

vt.

[ME stepen, akin to ON steypa, to overturn, cast (metals), plunge into: for prob. IE base see STEEP¹]

1. to soak in liquid, so as to soften, clean, extract the essence of, etc.

2. to immerse, saturate, absorb, or imbue [steeped in folklore]

vi.

to be steeped, as tea leaves

n.

1. a steeping or being steeped

2. liquid in which something is steeped

SYN.- SOAK