steep

Meaning

Adj

1. Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.
2. (informal) Expensive.
3. (obsolete) Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.
4. resulting in a mast or windshield angle that strongly diverges from the perpendicular.

Noun

The steep side of a mountain etc.; a slope or acclivity.

Verb

1. (transitive) To soak or wet thoroughly.
2. (figuratively, intransitive) To imbue with something; to be deeply immersed in.
3. To make tea (or other beverage) by placing leaves in hot water.

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A liquid used in a steeping process
2. (countable, uncountable) A rennet bag.

Opposite of

shallow, gentle

Synonyms

precipitous

soak

abrupt

high

immerse

sheer

infuse

sharp

sloping

bluff

macerate

precipice

drench

saturate

towering

craggy

exorbitant

cliff

dip

put in water

rugged

slope

soak up

inclined

offhand

unconscionable

stringent

vertical

hilly

sop

plunge

stiff

arduous

brusque

rough

rigid

ret

outrageous

blunt

perilous

engross

lofty

engulf

erect

jagged

offhanded

maceration

perpendicular

downhill

impregnate

Translations

steil

ripido

escarpado

steil

escarpé

íngreme

acantilado

raide

abrupt

abschüssig

escarpado

empinado

escarpat

arduus

schroff

Pronounced as (IPA)

/stiːp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: steep

Inherited from Old English: stēap

Cognate with Old Frisian: stāp

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: stiep

Cognate with Dutch: stoop

Cognate with Middle High German: stouf

Cognate with Middle High German: stief

Cognate with Scots: stap

Inherited from Middle English: stepen

Cognate with Danish: støbe

Cognate with Norwegian: støpe

Cognate with Swedish: stöpa

Cognate with Old English: stūpian

In summary

From Middle English steep, from Old English stēap (“high”), from Proto-Germanic *staupaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewb- (“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.

Sentences

Tea has been planted in the Eastern Division with very steep slopes .