steep

Universal Words adjective, verb adjective (steeper, steepest) 1 (of a slope, hill, etc.) rising or falling quickly, not gradually: a steep hill / slope / bank * a steep climb / descent / drop * a steep flight of stairs * The path grew steeper as we climbed higher. 2 [usuallybeforenoun] (of a rise or fall in an amount) sudden and very big: a steep decline in the birth rate * a steep rise in unemployment 3 (informal) (of a price or demand) too much; unreasonable: ｣2 for a cup of coffee seems a little steep to me. steeply adverb: a steeply sloping roof * The path climbed steeply upwards. * Prices rose steeply. steepness noun [U] verb IDIOMS be steeped in sth (written) to have a lot of a particular quality: a city steeped in history PHRASALVERBS steep sth in sth to put food in a liquid and leave it for some time so that it becomes soft and flavoured by the liquid: Steep the fruit in brandy overnight. steep yourself in sth (written) to spend a lot of time thinking or learning about sth: They spent a month steeping themselves in Chinese culture.