steep

³steep

verb

Definition of STEEP

transitive verb

1

: to soak in a liquid at a temperature under the boiling point (as for softening, bleaching, or extracting an essence)

2

: to cover with or plunge into a liquid (as in bathing, rinsing, or soaking)

3

: to saturate with or subject thoroughly to (some strong or pervading influence) <practices steeped in tradition>

intransitive verb

: to undergo the process of soaking in a liquid

— steep·er noun

Examples of STEEP

1. Steep the tea for three minutes.
2. The tea steeped for five minutes.

Origin of STEEP

Middle English stepen

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to STEEP

Synonyms: endue (or indue), imbue, inculcate, ingrain (also engrain), inoculate, invest, infuse, suffuse

Antonyms: wring (out)

Related Words: animate, charge, enliven, invigorate, leaven; implant, instill, plant; impregnate, permeate, pervade, saturate; deluge, drown, fill, flood, inundate, overwhelm, submerge

Near Antonyms: deprive, divest, strip; clear, empty; eliminate, remove, take away

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at soak