STEEP

adj. & n. --adj. 1 sloping sharply; almost perpendicular (a steep hill; steep stairs). 2 (of a rise or fall) rapid (a steep drop in share prices). 3 (predic.) colloq. a (of a demand, price, etc.) exorbitant; unreasonable (esp. a bit steep). b (of a story etc.) exaggerated; incredible. --n. a steep slope; a precipice. øøsteepen v.intr. & tr. steepish adj. steeply adv. steepness n. [OE steap f. WG, rel. to STOOP(1)]