steep

Formssteeper, steepest

Formssteeps, steeping, steeped

Pluralsteeps

1. 1
   adjective

   Rising or dropping sharply, at an angle close to straight up and down.

   Like a wall that goes almost straight up.

   The path up the hill was so steep that we had to stop and rest.

   Be careful. These stairs are very steep.

   Similarsheer, sharp, precipitous, abrupt

   Oppositegentle, shallow

   Note
2. 2
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To make a drink such as tea by leaving leaves in hot water.

   Like leaving a tea bag in a cup until the water turns brown.

   Steep the tea bag for three minutes before drinking.

   I like to steep green tea in water that is not too hot.

   Similarbrew, infuse

3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To soak something in liquid until it is completely wet.

   Like leaving dirty clothes in a bucket of water until they are soaked through.

   Steep the beans in water overnight before cooking them.

   She steeped the cloth in cold water to clean it.

   Similarsoak, immerse, drench, saturate

   Note
4. 4
   verbfigurativelytransitive

   To fill someone or something deeply with a subject, an idea, or a long history.

   Like a tea bag left in a cup until all of it tastes of tea.

   On rainy weekends she likes to steep herself in old movies.

   Her whole family is steeped in music, and everyone plays something.

   Similarimmerse, imbue, saturate, infuse

   Note
5. 5
   adjectivecolloquial

   Costing a lot of money, more than seems fair.

   Like seeing a price tag that makes you put the item back on the shelf.

   Forty dollars for a sandwich is pretty steep.

   The rent in that neighborhood is really steep.

   Similarexpensive, pricey, costly, stiff, exorbitant

   Oppositecheap, reasonable

6. 6
   nouncountable

   The sharply sloping side of a hill or mountain.

   We sat at the top of the steep and looked down at the little town.

   The goats stood on the steep above the valley.

   Similarslope, precipice, incline

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The liquid that material is left to soak in.

   Like the water in a bowl where you soak dried beans.

   The grain was left in the steep overnight.

   Workers drained the steep before starting the next batch.

   Similarbath, solution

   Note
8. 8
   adjective

   Set at an angle that leans far away from straight up, as a mast or windshield.

   Like a pole tilted well away from standing straight up.

   The sailboat's steep mast caught everyone's eye at the marina.

   That sports car has a very steep windshield.

   Note
9. 9
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The lining of a calf's stomach, used to curdle milk for making cheese.

   Like a small pouch that helps turn milk into cheese.

   The dairymaid hung the steep to dry before the next cheesemaking.

   They soaked the steep in brine to ready it for curdling the milk.

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