Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Steep?

\Steep\ (st[=e]p), a. Bright; glittering; fiery. [Obs.] His eyen steep, and rolling in his head. --Chaucer.
\Steep\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Steeped} (st[=e]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Steeping}.] [OE. stepen, probably fr. Icel. steypa to cause to stoop, cast down, pour out, to cast metals, causative of st[=u]pa to stoop; cf. Sw. st["o]pa to cast, to steep, Dan. st["o]be, D. & G. stippen to steep, to dip. Cf. {Stoop}, v. t.] To soak in a liquid; to macerate; to extract the essence of by soaking; as, to soften seed by steeping it in water. Often used figuratively. Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep. --Shak. In refreshing dew to steep The little, trembling flowers. --Wordsworth. The learned of the nation were steeped in Latin. --Earle.
\Steep\, v. i. To undergo the process of soaking in a liquid; as, the tea is steeping. [Colloq.]
\Steep\, n. 1. Something steeped, or used in steeping; a fertilizing liquid to hasten the germination of seeds. 2. A rennet bag. [Prov. Eng.]
\Steep\, a. [Comper. {Steeper}; superl. {Steepest}.] [OE. steep, step, AS. ste['a]p; akin to Icel. steyp?r steep, and st[=u]pa to stoop, Sw. stupa to fall, to tilt; cf. OFries. stap high. Cf. {Stoop}, v. i., {Steep}, v. t., {Steeple}.] 1. Making a large angle with the plane of the horizon; ascending or descending rapidly with respect to a horizontal line or a level; precipitous; as, a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep declivity; a steep barometric gradient. 2. Difficult of access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high. [Obs.] --Chapman. 3. Excessive; as, a steep price. [Slang]
\Steep\, n. A precipitous place, hill, mountain, rock, or ascent; any elevated object sloping with a large angle to the plane of the horizon; a precipice. --Dryden. We had on each side naked rocks and mountains broken into a thousand irregular steeps and precipices. --Addison. Bare steeps, where desolation stalks. --Wordsworth.