steppe

noun

\ ˈstep

Definition of steppe

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

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Examples of steppe in a Sentence

nomads have long grazed yaks on the steppes of Mongolia

Recent Examples on the Web

Today the steppe from the Black Sea to northern China is dotted with thousands of their tombs—deep grave pits, covered with mounds of stone or soil. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Satellites watch over the graves of ancient steppe nomads," 26 Dec. 2018 Konya — once a backwater of the Anatolian steppe, despite its storied history — is now a thriving commercial and industrial hub, served by high-speed rail links and an international airport. — Erin Cunningham, Washington Post, "Why Turkey’s president was among thousands in Konya paying homage to Rumi," 2 Jan. 2018 But now, thanks to a new partnership with mapping start-up What3Words, Mongolian Airbnb hosts—yes, even the nomadic ones—can tell you where to find them amid the country's steppe and forests. — Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "You'll Need a Reindeer to Get to This Airbnb in Mongolia," 19 Nov. 2018 That is why the Eurasian steppe is fringed to the south with barriers designed to forestall horsemen. — Felipe Fernández-armesto, WSJ, "‘Walls: A History of Civilization in Blood and Brick’ Review: . . . and Stay Out!," 13 Sep. 2018 The skeletons were discovered in dry sagebrush steppe in April 2017, by an Idaho Department of Fish and Game worker checking ground squirrel hunters’ licenses about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the small city of Mountain Home. — Washington Post, "500-year-old skeletons headed for Native American tribes," 4 May 2018 Over in Mongolia, Three Camel Lodge’s traditional felt yurts are served by the only airport in the province and have views of the Gobi Desert, where herds of horses gallop across the steppe (travel with Nomadic Expeditions). — Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, "Where to Go When You Just Want to Be Alone," 7 Sep. 2018 Just 16 stone tools turned up, spread across six layers of loess, deposited in colder, drier, windier times when the plateau would have been a steppe grassland with less ample grazing and much colder winters. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Hominins lived in China 2.1 million years ago," 11 July 2018 Here on the central Asian steppe, the ancient home of Genghis Khan and his Mongol horde, the nomads are brought up tough. — Simon Denyer, Washington Post, "Mongolia’s nomadic way of life threatened by climate change, neglect, modernity," 8 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'steppe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of steppe was in 1671

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More Definitions for steppe

steppe

noun

English Language Learners Definition of steppe

: a large, flat area of land with grass and very few trees especially in eastern Europe and Asia

See the full definition for steppe in the English Language Learners Dictionary

steppe

noun

\ ˈstep

Kids Definition of steppe

: land that is dry, rather level, mostly treeless, and covered with grass in regions (as parts of Asia and southeastern Europe) with usually hot summers and cold winters