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Lower vs Steep - What's the difference?

lower | steep | Related terms |

Lower is a related term of steep.


In lang=en terms the difference between lower and steep

is that lower is to decrease in value, amount, etc while steep is to imbue with something.

As adjectives the difference between lower and steep

is that lower is (low) while steep is of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.

As verbs the difference between lower and steep

is that lower is to let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down or lower can be while steep is (ambitransitive) to soak an item (or to be soaked) in liquid in order to gradually add or remove components to or from the item.

As an adverb lower

is .

As a noun steep is

a liquid used in a steeping process.

lower

English

Etymology 1

From (low) +

Adjective

(head)
  • (low)
  • bottom; more towards the bottom than the middle of an object
  • (geology, of strata or geological time periods) older
  • Antonyms
    * (more low) higher * (bottom) upper * (older) upper

    Adverb

    (head)
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down
  • lower a bucket into a well
    to lower a sail of a boat
  • to pull down
  • to lower a flag
    Lowered softly with a threefold cord of love / Down to a silent grave. .
  • To reduce the height of
  • lower a fence or wall
    lower a chimney or turret
  • To depress as to direction
  • lower the aim of a gun
  • To make less elevated
  • to lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes
  • To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of
  • lower the temperature
    lower one's vitality
    lower distilled liquors
  • To bring down; to humble
  • lower one's pride
  • (reflexive) (lower oneself ) To humble oneself; to do something one considers to be beneath one's dignity.
  • I could never lower myself enough to buy second-hand clothes.
  • To reduce (something) in value, amount, etc.
  • lower the price of goods
    lower the interest rate
  • To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease
  • The river lowered as rapidly as it rose.
  • To decrease in value, amount, etc.
  • Synonyms
    * bring down * shorten * * reduce * reduce, turn down * * be humble * cut, reduce * die off, drop, fall, fall off, shrink * become/get smaller, become/get lower, lessen, reduce

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • .
  • Statistics

    *

    steep

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) . The sense of “sharp slope” is attested circa 1200; the sense “expensive” is attested US 1856.

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.
  • a steep''' hill or mountain; a '''steep''' roof; a '''steep''' ascent; a '''steep barometric gradient
  • (informal) expensive
  • Twenty quid for a shave? That's a bit steep .
  • (obsolete) Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.
  • (Chapman)
  • (of the rake of a ship's mast, or a car's windshield) resulting in a mast or windshield angle that strongly diverges from the perpendicular
  • The steep rake of the windshield enhances the fast lines of the exterior. [http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070303/news_lz1dd3maynard.html]

    Synonyms

    * brant

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) stepen, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (ambitransitive) To soak an item (or to be soaked) in liquid in order to gradually add or remove components to or from the item
  • They steep skins in a tanning solution to create leather.
    The tea is steeping .
  • * Wordsworth
  • In refreshing dew to steep / The little, trembling flowers.
  • To imbue with something.
  • * Earle
  • The learned of the nation were steeped in Latin.
    a town steeped in history
    Derived terms
    * (l)

    Noun

  • A liquid used in a steeping process
  • Corn steep has many industrial uses.
  • A rennet bag.
  • References