Main Entry: ¹steep

Pronunciation: \ˈstēp\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English stepe, from Old English stēap high, steep, deep; akin to Old Frisian stāp steep, Middle High German stief — more at stoop

Date: before 12th century

1 : lofty, high —used chiefly of a sea
2 : making a large angle with the plane of the horizon
3 a : mounting or falling precipitously <the stairs were very steep> b : being or characterized by a rapid and intensive decline or increase
4 : extremely or excessively high <steep prices>

— steep·ish \ˈstē-pish\ adjective

— steep·ly adverb

— steep·ness noun

synonyms steep, abrupt, precipitous, sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular. steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult <a steep hill> <a steep dive>. abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level <a beach with an abrupt drop-off>. precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical <the river winds through a precipitous gorge>. sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse <sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers>.