steep

/ˈstēp/

Middle English stepe, from Old English stēap high, steep, deep; akin to Old Frisian stāp steep, Middle High German stief

adjective

  1. lofty, high —used chiefly of a sea

  2. making a large angle with the plane of the horizon

  3. mounting or falling precipitously

steep abrupt precipitous sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular. steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult. abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

noun

  1. a precipitous place

verb

  1. to soak in a liquid at a temperature under the boiling point (as for softening, bleaching, or extracting an essence)

  2. to cover with or plunge into a liquid (as in bathing, rinsing, or soaking)

  3. to saturate with or subject thoroughly to (some strong or pervading influence)

soak saturate drench steep impregnate mean to permeate or be permeated with a liquid. soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing. saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.