From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsteepsteep1 /stiːp/ ●●○ S3 adjective (comparative steeper, superlative steepest) 1 HORIZONTAL#a road, hill etc that is steep slopes at a high angle The road became rocky and steep. a steep climb to the top2 EXPENSIVEsteep prices, charges etc are unusually expensive OPP low steep rents3 BIGinvolving a big increase or decrease SYN sharp steep cuts in benefitssteep increase/rise a steep increase in house pricessteep decrease/drop a steep drop in orders —steeply adverb —steepness noun [uncountable]COLLOCATIONSnounsa steep hillThe car careered down the steep hill.a steep slopeCoffee was grown on the steep slopes.a steep bankHe scrambled down the steep bank.a steep path/roadShe stood at the top of the steep path leading down to the beach.steep stairsMartha led the way up the very steep stairs.the steep sides of somethingThe steep sides of the valley were clothed in dense green forest.a steep gradient formal (=a steep slope – used especially when talking about how steep something is)The Snowdon Mountain Railway has the steepest gradient of any locomotive track in Britain.a steep climbA steep climb brought us to a wide rocky plateau.a steep descent (=a steep journey, slope, or path downwards)the steep descent into the beautiful Farndale Valley
Examples from the Corpus
steep• It's hard to find an apartment around here, and when you do the rents are pretty steep.• It is possible that the steep age gradient observed in Figure 5.1 is mainly due to these factors.• The show is Sunday, July 27, and though tickets are somewhat steep at $27, it should be well worth seeing.• I think £7 for a drink is a bit steep, don't you?• Below us the narrow road twisted upon itself as it began to climb up through the steep foothills.• They've proposed a steep increase in the cigarette tax.• The rest of the film shows their ordeal as they make repeated assaults on the steep, mud-slick, heavily fortified hill.• I met the old lady as I was walking down a steep path out of the village.• With regard to the gradients, Leathart must have had in mind the steep section of the Deep Level.• To my right lies a steep slope.• We edged up along a steep, snowy ridge and over the heaven-scraped granite to the top.• National Championship hopefuls have to master their craft in high winds and steep swell.• The road's too steep to ride up on a bike.steep increase/rise• At the time, both departments were understood to be concerned about potential tax losses and a steep increase in collection costs.• However, he accompanied the tax cuts with steep increases in government spending, especially in the area of defense.• He has already triggered a steep rise in transfer market prices by proving such a bargain at £2.5 million.• Set back from the road on quite a steep rise was a new ranch-style house.steepsteep2 verb [intransitive, transitive] 1 → be steeped in history/tradition/politics etc2 DFCto put food in a liquid and leave it there, so that it becomes soft or has the same taste as the liquid, or so that it gives the liquid its taste Leave the tea bag to steep.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
steep• Top with lid and allow lemons to steep for 2 weeks at room temperature before using.• In fact, this was 1956: I was steeped in developing short story writing and interests that went with that.• They brought with them a heritage and culture that is steeped in history and literature.• His father is steeped in horses, hunts with the South Tetcott and is also involved with team chasing.• As a child, Tucson physician Lewis Mehl-Madrona was steeped in the traditional healing practices of his Cherokee grandmother.• Craving a meal steeped in tradition?From Longman Business Dictionarysteepsteep /stiːp/ adjective1steep prices, charges etc are unusually expensiveConsumers are paying relatively steep prices for dairy products.Anyone caught fiddling their expenses will face steep fines.2a steep increase or rise in something is a very big increaseThere has been a steep decline in oil prices.a steep drop in consumer spending —steeply adverbThe Australian dollar isn’t likely to fall steeply.Origin steep1 Old English steap “high, steep, deep” steep2 (1300-1400) From an unrecorded Old English stiepan 