# steady

Pronunciation: say "STED-ee" /ˈstɛdi/

## Adjective

1. Regular and even, without sudden changes or interruptions.
   - Simple: Happening in a regular way, without sudden changes or stops.
   - _The patient maintained a steady heartbeat throughout the procedure._
   - _Rainfall came down at a steady rate for several hours._
2. Firm in position, not tottering or shaking; fixed and secure.
   - Simple: Held firmly in place, not shaking or about to fall over.
   - _Keep your hands steady when you thread the needle._
   - _The old bridge remained steady despite the heavy traffic._
3. Constant in feeling or purpose; not fickle or wavering, and not easily persuaded to change course.
   - Simple: Staying firm in your feelings or plans, and not changing your mind easily.
   - _Her steady commitment to the cause impressed everyone on the committee._
   - _Despite the harsh criticism, he remained steady in his beliefs._
4. Calm and even-tempered; not easily upset, excited, or disturbed.
   - Simple: Calm and not easily upset or excited.
   - _The nurse kept a steady tone while the patient grew more anxious._
   - _A steady leader keeps the whole team calm during a crisis._
7. Smooth and free of bumps or obstructions.
   - Simple: Smooth, without bumps or things getting in the way.
   - _The plane found a steady patch of air and the bumping stopped._
   - _Cyclists prefer a steady surface free of potholes and cracks._
9. Slow; proceeding at an unhurried, gentle pace.
   - Simple: Moving slowly and without rushing.
   - _The procession moved at a steady, unhurried pace through the town._
   - _She prefers a steady amble to a brisk march._
12. Able to handle tasks skillfully and reliably while remaining calm and self-assured under pressure. *(Singapore, Singlish)*
   - Simple: Calm, sure, and good at what you do, even under pressure.
   - _The pilot stayed steady as the storm tossed the aircraft around._
   - _We hired her because she's steady under pressure and rarely makes mistakes._

## Verb

5. To make something stable or keep it from shaking.
   - Simple: To hold something still so that it stops shaking.
   - _He gripped the railing to steady himself on the icy steps._
   - _A few kind words helped steady her shaking voice._
6. To become stable or stop shaking.
   - Simple: To become stable or calm after moving or shaking.
   - _Prices steadied after months of sharp rises._
   - _His hands steady once he focuses on the task in front of him._

## Noun

8. A person's regular boyfriend or girlfriend. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A regular boyfriend or girlfriend.
   - _He introduced his steady to his parents over dinner._
   - _They were each other's steady all through college._
10. A device on which the hand, a tool, or a workpiece can rest so that it is held firm.
   - Simple: A support that holds your hand, a tool, or your work still.
   - _The turner fitted a steady to the lathe to support the long shaft._
   - _Without a steady, the thin rod bent under the cutting pressure._
15. A prostitute's regular client. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A prostitute's regular customer.
   - _The madam reserved the back room for the women's wealthier steadies._
   - _He had become her steady, visiting the same house every Friday night._

## Interjection

13. Used as an exclamation of approval, praise, or encouragement. *(Singlish)*
   - Simple: Used to show that you like or approve of something.
   - _Steady! Now that's how you score a goal._
   - _He landed the trick perfectly, and his friends yelled, "Steady!"_

## Particle

14. Placed before a verb to mark an action as ongoing, consistent, and intense.
   - Simple: Used before an action word to show it keeps happening strongly and without stopping.
   - _She steady grinding at two jobs to support her family._
   - _Those kids steady running around the block all afternoon._

## Adverb

16. In rowing, with full pressure applied at a low stroke rate, often around eighteen strokes per minute. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: In rowing, pulling firmly but at a slow, even stroke rate.
   - _They rowed steady through the long stretch to save energy for the finish._
   - _The eight settled in and pulled steady at about eighteen strokes a minute._

## Adjective

11. Designating the regular partner one is exclusively involved with romantically. *(dated)*
   - Simple: Being someone's regular, only boyfriend or girlfriend.
   - _By spring they had become each other's steady companions._
   - _Her steady beau walked her home from the dance every evening._

## Origin

From Middle English stedy, perhaps continuing Old English stæþþiġ ("steadfast, stable, firm"), and equivalent to 'stead' plus '-y'; it may instead be a calque of Middle Low German or Middle Dutch stēdig. It is related to words like Swedish stadig, Danish stadig, and German stetig.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/steady (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).