/ stɪə(r); NAmE stɪr/ verb , noun
■ verb
1.
to control the direction in which a boat, car, etc. moves :
[ vn ]
He steered the boat into the harbour.
( figurative )
He took her arm and steered her towards the door.
[ v ]
You row and I'll steer.
2.
( of a boat, car, etc. ) to move in a particular direction :
[ vn ]
The ship steered a course between the islands.
[ v ]
The ship steered into port.
3.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to take control of a situation and influence the way in which it develops :
He managed to steer the conversation away from his divorce.
She steered the team to victory.
The skill is in steering a middle course between the two extremes.
•
IDIOMS
see clear adverb
■ noun
a bull (= a male cow) that has been castrated (= had part of its sex organs removed), kept for its meat
—compare bullock , ox
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb Old English stīeran , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch sturen and German steuern .
noun Old English stēor , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stier and German Stier .