Steep

Pronunciation

• enPR: stÄ“p, IPA: /stiːp/
• Rhymes: -iːp

Old English stēap ("high"), from Proto-Germanic *staupaz (compare Old Frisian stāp, Middle High German stouf ("towering cliff, precipice"), Middle High German stief ("steep")), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewb- ("to push, stick").

Online Etymology Dictionary

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.

Full definition of steep

Adjective

1. Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep barometric gradient
2. (informal) expensiveTwenty quid for a shave? That's a bit steep.
3. (obsolete) Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.

Synonyms

• brant

From Middle English stepen, from Old Norse steypa ("to make stoop, cast down, pour out, cast (metal)")

Danish cognate in : eng. (muligvis fra nordisk) steep

Webster 1913|steep

, 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"). More at stoop.

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To soak an item (or to be soaked) in liquid in order to gradually add or remove components to or from the itemThey steep skins in a tanning solution to create leather.The tea is steeping.
• WordsworthIn refreshing dew to steep
  The little, trembling flowers.
2. (intransitive) To imbue with something.
• EarleThe learned of the nation were steeped in Latin.
3. a town steeped in history

Derived terms

• insteep

Noun

1. A liquid used in a steeping processCorn steep has many industrial uses.
2. A rennet bag.