steppe

noun

1
: one of the vast usually level and treeless tracts in southeastern Europe or Asia
2
: arid land with xerophilous vegetation found usually in regions of extreme temperature range and loess soil

Examples of steppe in a Sentence

nomads have long grazed yaks on the steppes of Mongolia
Recent Examples on the Web Scientists had previously proposed plague as a driver of the population decline, which opened the way for migrants from the steppe, but this is the first direct evidence of an outbreak. Byscience News Staff, science.org, 11 July 2024 Another discovery of a cauldron in the western steppe around the Caucasus region between the Caspian and Black seas revealed the remains of muscle proteins and milk, likely from an ancient stew. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 25 June 2024 The juxtaposition of the two worlds, one of which had been grazing horses in this area of the steppe for millennia, the other of which had, in a moment of daring and gamesmanship, started launching people into the cosmos with rockets meant to annihilate humanity, filled McConnell with wonder. Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2024 For now, all lines of evidence seem to converge on the idea that horse domestication probably did take place in the Black Sea steppes, but much later than the Kurgan hypothesis requires. William Taylor, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for steppe 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steppe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Russian step'

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of steppe was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near steppe

Cite this Entry

“Steppe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steppe. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

steppe

noun
: land in regions of wide temperature range (as in southeastern Europe and parts of Asia) that is dry, usually rather level, and covered with grass

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