v. & n.
v. 1 tr. a guide (a vehicle, aircraft, etc.) by a wheel etc. b guide (a vessel) by a rudder or helm. 2 intr. guide a vessel or vehicle in a specified direction (tried to steer left). 3 tr. direct (one's course). 4 intr. direct one's course in a specified direction (steered for the railway station). 5 tr. guide the movement or trend of (steered them into the garden; steered the conversation away from that subject).
n. US steering; guidance. steer clear of take care to avoid. steering-column the shaft or column which connects the steering-wheel, handlebars, etc. of a vehicle to the rest of the steering-gear. steering committee a committee deciding the order of dealing with business, or priorities and the general course of operations. steering-wheel a wheel by which a vehicle etc. is steered. steerable adj. steerer n. steering n. (esp. in senses 1, 2 of v.).
[ OE stieran f. Gmc ]