What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Rapid vs Steep - What's the difference?

rapid | steep |

As adjectives the difference between rapid and steep

is that rapid is very swift or quick while steep is of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.

As nouns the difference between rapid and steep

is that rapid is a rough section of a river or stream which is difficult to navigate due to the swift and turbulent motion of the water while steep is a liquid used in a steeping process.

As an adverb rapid

is rapidly.

As a verb steep is

to soak an item (or to be soaked) in liquid in order to gradually add or remove components to or from the item.

rapid

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Very swift or quick.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=5 citation , passage=The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite. There is something humiliating about it.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-21, author= Chico Harlan
    • , volume=189, issue=2, page=30, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Japan pockets the subsidy … , passage=Across Japan, technology companies and private investors are racing to install devices that until recently they had little interest in: solar panels. Massive solar parks are popping up as part of a rapid build-up that one developer likened to an "explosion."}}
  • Steep, changing altitude quickly. (of a slope)
  • Needing only a brief exposure time. (of a lens, plate, film, etc.)
  • (England, dialectal) Violent, severe.
  • (obsolete, dialectal) Happy.

    • Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (archaic or colloquial) Rapidly.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (often, in the plural) a rough section of a river or stream which is difficult to navigate due to the swift and turbulent motion of the water.
  • (dated) A burst of rapid fire.

    • Related terms

    * rapt

    Derived terms

    * rapidity * rapidly * rapidness * ultrarapid

    Anagrams

    *

    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