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.

Steep vs Oblique - What's the difference?

steep | oblique |

As verbs the difference between steep and oblique

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 oblique is .

As an adjective steep

is of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.

As a noun steep

is a liquid used in a steeping process.

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

    oblique

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Not erect or perpendicular; neither parallel to, nor at right angles from, the base; slanting; inclined.
  • * Cheyne
    • It has a direction oblique to that of the former motion.
  • Not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister.
  • * Drayton
    • The love we bear our friends Hath in it certain oblique ends.
  • * De Quincey
    • This mode of oblique research, when a more direct one is denied, we find to be the only one in our power.
  • * Wordsworth
    • Then would be closed the restless, oblique eye / That looks for evil, like a treacherous spy.
  • Not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral.
  • * Baker
    • His natural affection in a direct line was strong, in an oblique but weak.
  • (botany, of leaves) Having the base of the blade asymmetrical, with one side larger or extending further than the other.

    • Derived terms

    * oblique angle * oblique arch * oblique ascension * oblique bridge * oblique case * oblique circle * oblique fire * oblique flank * oblique line * oblique motion * oblique muscle * oblique narration * oblique plane * oblique sailing * oblique speech * oblique sphere * oblique step * oblique system of coordinates

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (geometry) An oblique line.
  • The punctuation sign "/"
  • (grammar) The oblique case.

    • Verb

  • To deviate from a perpendicular line; to move in an oblique direction.
  • * Projecting his person towards it in a line which obliqued from the bottom of his spine. - Sir. W. Scott.
  • (military) To march in a direction oblique to the line of the column or platoon; — formerly accomplished by oblique steps, now by direct steps, the men half-facing either to the right or left.
    • ----