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Slope vs Steep - What's the difference?

slope | steep |

In intransitive terms the difference between slope and steep

is that slope is to tend steadily upward or downward while steep is to imbue with something.

In obsolete terms the difference between slope and steep

is that slope is slopingly while steep is difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.

As an adverb slope

is slopingly.

slope

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An area of ground that tends evenly upward or downward.
    • I had to climb a small slope to get to the site.
  • The degree to which a surface tends upward or downward.
    • The road has a very sharp downward slope at that point.
  • (mathematics) The ratio of the vertical and horizontal distances between two points on a line; zero if the line is horizontal, undefined if it is vertical.
    • The slope of this line is 0.5
  • (mathematics) The slope of the line tangent to a curve at a given point.
    • The slope of a parabola increases linearly with ''x''.
  • The angle a roof surface makes with the horizontal, expressed as a ratio of the units of vertical rise to the units of horizontal length (sometimes referred to as run).
    • The slope of an asphalt shingle roof system should be 4:12 or greater.
  • (vulgar, highly offensive, ethnic slur) A person of Chinese or other East Asian descent.

    • Synonyms

    * (area of ground that tends evenly upward or downward) bank, embankment, gradient, hill, incline * (degree to which a surface tends upward or downward) gradient * (mathematics) first derivative, gradient * Chinaman, Chink

    Verb

    (slop)
  • (label) To tend steadily upward or downward.
  • * , chapter=23
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=If the afternoon was fine they strolled together in the park, very slowly, and with pauses to draw breath wherever the ground sloped upward. The slightest effort made the patient cough.}}
  • (label) To form with a slope; to give an oblique or slanting direction to; to incline or slant.
  • To try to move surreptitiously.
  • (label) To hold a rifle at a slope with forearm perpendicular to the body in front holding the butt, the rifle resting on the shoulder.

    • Derived terms

    * ski slope * slippery slope * sloping

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Sloping.
  • * (Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
    • A bank not steep, but gently slope .
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • Down the slope hills.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) slopingly
    • (Milton)

    Anagrams

    *

    References

    ----

    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