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steer1

Syllabification: (steer)
Pronunciation: /sti(ə)r/

Translate steer | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of steer

verb

[with object]
  • (of a person) guide or control the movement of (a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft), for example by turning a wheel or operating a rudder:he steered the boat slowly toward the busy quay [no object]:he let Lily steer
  • [no object] (of a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft) be guided in a specified direction:the ship steered into port
  • follow (a course) in a specified direction:the fishermen were steering a direct course for Kodiak
  • guide the movement or course of (someone or something):he had steered her to a chair figurativehe made an attempt to steer the conversation back to Heather

noun

informal
  • a piece of advice or information concerning the development of a situation:the need for the school to be given a clear steer as to its future direction

Phrases

steer clear of

take care to avoid or keep away from:his program steers clear of prickly local issues

steer a middle course

see middle.

Derivatives

steerable

Pronunciation: /ˈsti(ə)rəbəl/

adjective

Origin:

Old English stīeran, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch sturen and German steuern

steer in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of steer in the British & World English dictionary