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Sheep vs Steep - What's the difference?

sheep | steep |

As nouns the difference between sheep and steep

is that sheep is a woolly ruminant of the genus Ovis while steep is a liquid used in a steeping process.

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 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.

sheep

English

Noun

(sheep)
  • A woolly ruminant of the genus Ovis .
  • A timid, shy person who is easily led by others.
  • (chiefly, humorous)

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * black sheep * sheepdog * sheepfold * sheepish * sheeple * sheepskin * shoop (chiefly-humorous back-formation)

    Descendants

    * Abenaki: (l)

    See also

    * * Aries * ewe * lamb * mutton * ovine * ram * teg * tup * wether

    External links

    * * (wikipedia) * (Ovis)

    References

    Anagrams

    * * 1000 English basic words ----

    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