/ stiːp; NAmE / adjective , verb
■ adjective ( steep·er , steep·est )
1.
( of a slope, hill, etc. ) rising or falling quickly, not gradually :
a steep hill / slope / bank
a steep climb / descent / drop
a steep flight of stairs
The path grew steeper as we climbed higher.
2.
[ usually before noun ] ( of a rise or fall in an amount ) sudden and very big
SYN sharp :
a steep decline in the birth rate
a steep rise in unemployment
3.
( informal ) ( of a price or demand ) too much; unreasonable
SYN expensive :
£2 for a cup of coffee seems a little steep to me.
► steep·ly adverb :
a steeply sloping roof
The path climbed steeply upwards.
Prices rose steeply.
► steep·ness noun [ U ]
■ verb
•
IDIOMS
- be steeped in sth
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- steep sth in sth
- steep yourself in sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
adjective Old English stēap extending to a great height , of West Germanic origin; related to steeple and the verb stoop .
verb Middle English : of Germanic origin; related to stoup .