steep
steep Lexical Profile
steep Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Rising or falling sharply at a high angle; nearly perpendicular (of a slope, flight of stairs, or angle).
"The hikers paused to catch their breath halfway up the steep mountain trail."
Excessively high, expensive, or demanding (of a price, fee, or requirement).
"Many local residents complained that the admission fee for the new museum was far too steep."
Rapid and substantial in scale or degree (of a rise or decline).
"The company experienced a steep drop in quarterly revenue following the supply chain disruption."
• verb
To surround, fill, or imbue thoroughly with a particular quality, atmosphere, or tradition (usually used in the passive).
"The ancient university town is steeped in centuries of scholarly tradition and architectural history."
To soak or saturate a solid substance (such as tea leaves, herbs, or grain) in liquid so as to extract its flavor or soften it.
"Allow the chamomile blossoms to steep in boiling water for five minutes before straining the tea."
• noun
A precipitous cliff, mountain slope, or sharply inclined place.
"From the rocky steep overlooking the harbor, we could see fishing boats returning at dusk."
The process of soaking something in liquid, or the liquid bath used for soaking.
"The barley undergoes a carefully timed steep in warm water before germination begins."
• Rhymes for steep
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The adjective and noun derive from Old English 'steap', meaning high, lofty, or precipitous, from a Proto-Germanic root shared with 'steeple' and 'stoop'. The verb meaning to soak comes from Middle English 'stepen', likely related to Old Norse 'steypa', meaning to pour out or cast.