As adjectives the difference between steep and shear
is that
steep is of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical while
shear is .
As verbs the difference between steep and shear
is that
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 while
shear is to cut, originally with a sword or other bladed weapon, now usually with shears, or as if using shears.
As nouns the difference between steep and shear
is that
steep is a liquid used in a steeping process while
shear is a cutting tool similar to scissors, but often larger.
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
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shear Verb
To cut, originally with a sword or other bladed weapon, now usually with shears, or as if using shears.
* 1819 , Walter Scott, Ivanhoe :
- So trenchant was the Templar’s weapon, that it shore asunder, as it had been a willow twig, the tough and plaited handle of the mace, which the ill-fated Saxon reared to parry the blow, and, descending on his head, levelled him with the earth.
* Shakespeare
- the golden tresses were shorn away
To remove the fleece from a sheep etc by clipping.
(physics) To deform because of shearing forces.
(Scotland) To reap, as grain.
- (Jamieson)
(figurative) To deprive of property; to fleece.
Noun
( en noun)
a cutting tool similar to scissors, but often larger
* Dryden
- short of the wool, and naked from the shear
the act of shearing, or something removed by shearing
* Youatt
- After the second shearing, he is a two-shear' ram; at the expiration of another year, he is a three-' shear ram; the name always taking its date from the time of shearing.
(physics) a force that produces a shearing strain
(geology) The response of a rock to deformation usually by compressive stress, resulting in particular textures.
Derived terms
* megashear
* shearer
Adjective
(head)
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