Main Entry:

¹steep

Pronunciation:

\ˈstēp\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

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

Date:

before 12th century

1: lofty, high —used chiefly of a sea2: making a large angle with the plane of the horizon3 a: mounting or falling precipitously <the stairs were very steep> b: being or characterized by a rapid and intensive decline or increase4: 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>.