steep

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having a sharp inclination

   the steep attic stairs

2. 2
   verb

   let sit in a liquid to extract a flavor or to cleanse

   steep the blossoms in oil

3. 3
   adj

   Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.

   a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep barometric gradient

4. 4
   adj

   Expensive.

   Twenty quid for a shave? That's a bit steep.

5. 5
   adj

   Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.

   Her ears and thoughts in steep amaze erected

6. 6
   adj

   resulting in a mast or windshield angle that strongly diverges from the perpendicular.

   The steep rake of the windshield enhances the fast lines of the exterior.

7. 7
   noun

   The steep side of a mountain etc.; a slope or acclivity.

   It ended precipitously in a dark and narrow ravine, formed on the other side by an opposite mountain, the lofty steep of which was crested by a city gently rising on a gradual slope

8. 8
   verb

   To soak or wet thoroughly.

   They steep skins in a tanning solution to create leather.

Etymology

From Middle English steep, from Old English stēap (“high”), from Proto-Germanic *staupaz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewb- (“to push, stick”). Compare Old Frisian stāp ("high, towering"; > Modern Saterland Frisian stiep (“steep”)), Dutch stoop (“grand; proud”), Middle High German stouf (“towering cliff, precipice”), Middle High German stief (“steep”)). The Proto-Indo-European root (and related) has many and varied descendants, including English stub; compare also Scots stap (“to strike, to forcibly insert”). The sense of “sharp slope” is attested circa 1200; the sense “expensive” is attested…