steak

noun

ˈstāk 

plural steaks

1

a

: a slice of meat cut from a fleshy part of a beef carcass

b

: a similar slice of a specified meat other than beef

ham steak

c

: a cross-section slice of a large fish

swordfish steak

d

: a thick slice or piece of a non-meat food especially when prepared or served in the manner of a beef steak

tofu/portobello steaks

a cauliflower steak

2

a

: ground beef prepared for cooking or for serving in the manner of a steak

hamburger steak

b

: a non-meat food formed into a patty and cooked

lentil steak

wild mushroom steak

Examples of steak in a Sentence

I grilled a steak for dinner.

We had steak and potatoes for dinner.

Recent Examples on the Web

Caribbean flavors and American fare join forces on the menu, with jerk chicken, smash burgers, steak fajitas, cocktails, and creative vegetable dishes available to curb your appetite. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025

Middle Tennessee deer processors are hard at work this time of year, taking thousands of deer harvested by hunters and turning those kills into frozen steaks, ground meat and sausages. —Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 28 Nov. 2025

Younger specializes in weeknight dinner recipes like steak tacos, chicken alfredo, and barbecue salmon — all filmed with ingredients, measurements, and helpful POV shots to show exactly what your pan should look like at each step. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2025

But for steak lovers, the sky-high price of the cut isn’t likely to be affected regardless, as most imports are lean trimmings that get mixed into ground beef. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English steke, from Old Norse steik; akin to Old Norse steikja to roast on a stake, stik stick, stake — more at stick

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing steak

• carpetbag steak
• chicken-fried steak
• club steak
• cube steak
• Delmonico steak
• flank steak
• hanger steak
• minute steak
• rib eye steak
• round steak
• Salisbury steak
• shell steak
• skirt steak
• steak house
• steak knife
• steak tartare
• Swiss steak
• T-bone steak

Rhymes for steak

• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake

Kids Definition

steak

noun

ˈstāk 

1

: a slice of meat and especially beef

2

: a slice of a large fish (as swordfish)