adj.
Pronunciation: ' st ē p
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English stepe, from Old English st ē ap high, steep, deep; akin to Old Frisian st ā p steep, Middle High German stief ― more at STOOP
Date: before 12th century
1 : LOFTY , HIGH ― used chiefly of a sea
2 : making a large angle with the plane of the horizon
3 a : mounting or falling precipitously <the stairs were very steep > b : being or characterized by a rapid and intensive decline or increase
4 : extremely or excessively high < steep prices>
– steep · ish \ ' st ē -pish \ adjective
– steep · ly adverb
– steep · ness noun
synonyms STEEP , ABRUPT , PRECIPITOUS , SHEER mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular. STEEP implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult <a steep hill> <a steep dive>. ABRUPT implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level <a beach with an abrupt drop-off>. PRECIPITOUS applies to an incline approaching the vertical <the river winds through a precipitous gorge>. SHEER suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse < sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers>.