What does STEEP mean?

Here is the requested information on the word "steep": 1. **Parts of Speech:** Steep can be used as a verb, adjective, or noun. 2. **Definitions:** - As a verb, steep means to soak in liquid, or to immerse in or saturate with a quality or influence. - As an adjective, steep means having a sharp rise or drop; almost perpendicular. - As a noun, steep refers to a steep place or slope. 3. **Pronunciations:** - US: /stip/ - UK: /stiːp/ 4. **Origin and Usage:** The word "steep" comes from the Old English word "stēap" which means "high, lofty, or tall". The word has been used in English since the 14th century. It is commonly used to describe a slope or incline that is difficult to climb or descend, or a price or cost that is high or excessive. 5. **Synonyms:** - As a verb: soak, immerse, drench, saturate. - As an adjective: sheer, abrupt, precipitous, sudden. - As a noun: slope, incline, hill, gradient. 6. **Related Words:** - Sleep, stomp, sweep, strew, steer. 7. **Example Sentences:** - Verb: She steeped the tea for five minutes before adding milk. - Adjective: The hill was too steep for the hikers to climb without ropes. - Noun: The steep of the mountain was covered in snow.