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steep

   Also found in: Acronyms, Idioms, Wikipedia 0.56 sec.
steep 1  (stp)
adj. steep·er, steep·est
1. Having a sharp inclination; precipitous.
2. At a rapid or precipitous rate: a steep rise in salaries.
3.
a. Excessive; stiff: a steep price.
b. Ambitious; difficult: a steep undertaking.
n.
A precipitous slope.

[Middle English stepe, from Old English stap.]

steeply adv.
steepness n.
Synonyms: steep1, abrupt, precipitous, sheer2
These adjectives mean so sharply inclined as to be almost perpendicular: steep cliffs; an abrupt drop-off; precipitous hills; a sheer descent.

steep 1
Adjective
1. having a sharp slope
2. Informal (of a fee, price, or demand) unreasonably high; excessive [Old English stēap]
steeply adv
steepness n

steep 2
Verb
1. to soak or be soaked in a liquid in order to soften or cleanse
2. steeped in filled with: an industry steeped in tradition [Old English stēpan]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.steepsteep - a steep place (as on a hill)
declivity, downslope, declination, declension, fall, decline, descent - a downward slope or bend
Verb1.steep - devote (oneself) fully to; "He immersed himself into his studies"
immerse, plunge - cause to be immersed; "The professor plunged his students into the study of the Italian text"
focus, pore, rivet, center, centre, concentrate - direct one's attention on something; "Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies"
drink in, drink - be fascinated or spell-bound by; pay close attention to; "The mother drinks in every word of her son on the stage"
2.steep - let sit in a liquid to extract a flavor or to cleanse; "steep the blossoms in oil"; "steep the fruit in alcohol"
marinade, marinate - soak in marinade; "marinade herring"
decoct - steep in hot water
infuse - undergo the process of infusion; "the mint tea is infusing"
infuse - undergo the process of infusion; "the mint tea is infusing"
draw - steep; pass through a strainer; "draw pulp from the fruit"
imbue, soak - fill, soak, or imbue totally; "soak the bandage with disinfectant"
Adj.1.steep - having a sharp inclination; "the steep attic stairs"; "steep cliffs"
vertical, perpendicular - at right angles to the plane of the horizon or a base line; "a vertical camera angle"; "the monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab"; "measure the perpendicular height"
gradual - (of a topographical gradient) not steep or abrupt; "a gradual slope"
2.steepsteep - greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; "exorbitant rent"; "extortionate prices"; "spends an outrageous amount on entertainment"; "usurious interest rate"; "unconscionable spending"
immoderate - beyond reasonable limits; "immoderate laughter"; "immoderate spending"
3.steep - of a slope; set at a high angle; "note the steep incline"; "a steep roof sheds snow"
high - (literal meaning) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like `knee-high'); "a high mountain"; "high ceilings"; "high buildings"; "a high forehead"; "a high incline"; "a foot high"

steep 1
steep 2
Translations
Spanish steep [stiːp] adjescarpado, abrupto; [stair] → empinado; [price] → exorbitante, excesivo
French steep [stiːp] adjraide, escarpé(e); [price] → très élevé(e)excessif/ive
vt(faire) tremper

German steep [stiːp] adjsteil;
(increase, rise) → stark;
(price, fees) → gepfeffert
vteinweichen;
to be steeped in history → geschichtsträchtig sein

Italian steep [stiːp] adjripido/a, scosceso/a; [price] → eccessivo/a
vtinzuppare [+ washing]; mettere a mollo

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When they had descended and risen again, they found themselves on the eastern brink of a steep hill.
In spite of having their horses shod with sharp nails, no one managed to get more than half-way up, and then they all fell back right down to the bottom of the steep slippery hill.
As I cast about for some means of saving as many as possible of the doomed men, I saw a diverging corridor which seemed to rise at a steep angle at my right.
 
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