steer

⁴steer

Definition of STEER

dialect British variant of stir

¹steer

noun \ˈstir\

Definition of STEER

1

: a male bovine animal and especially a domestic ox (Bos taurus) castrated before sexual maturity — compare stag 3

2

: an ox less than four years old

Origin of STEER

Middle English, from Old English stēor young ox; akin to Old High German stior young ox

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

Rhymes with STEER

beer, bier, blear, cere, cheer, clear, dear, deer, Deere, drear, ear, fear, fere, fleer, gear, hear, here, jeer, leer, mere, mir, near, peer, pier, Pierre, queer, rear, schmear, sear, seer, sere, shear, sheer, skirr, smear, sneer, spear, speer, sphere, tear, tier, Trier, Tyr, veer, weir, year

²steer

verb

Definition of STEER

transitive verb

1

: to control the course of : direct; especially : to guide by mechanical means (as a rudder)

2

: to set and hold to (a course)

intransitive verb

1

: to direct the course (as of a ship or automobile)

2

: to pursue a course of action

3

: to be subject to steering <the car steers well>

— steer·able \ˈstir-ə-bəl\ adjective

— steer·er noun

— steer clear

: to keep entirely away —often used with of <tries to steer clear of debt>

Examples of STEER

1. She steered the ship through the strait.
2. He steered his car carefully into the parking space.
3. He steered the wheelchair through the aisles.
4. Skillful navigators can steer by the positions of the stars.
5. The car was steering right at us.
6. The boat steered out to sea.
7. He tried to steer the conversation away from his recent problems.
8. She skillfully steered the bill through the legislature.
9. He steered the team to another championship last year.
10. The high recent returns on stocks have steered many investors away from bonds.

Origin of STEER

Middle English steren, from Old English stīeran; akin to Old English stēor- steering oar, Greek stauros stake, cross, stylos pillar, Sanskrit sthavira, sthūra stout, thick

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to STEER

Synonyms

conduct, direct, guide, marshal (also marshall), pilot, route, show, lead, usher

Antonyms

follow, trail

Related Words

precede; accompany, attend, chaperone (or chaperon), convoy, escort, see; control, manage

Near Antonyms

dog, hound, shadow, tail, tailgate

See Synonym Discussion at guide

³steer

noun

Definition of STEER

: a hint as to procedure : tip

First Known Use of STEER

1894