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steer1

Pronunciation: /stɪə/
Translate steer | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of steer

verb

[with object]
  • 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 towards the busy quay [no object]:he let Lily steer
  • [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft) be guided in a specified direction:the ship steered into port
  • [with object and adverbial of direction] follow (a course) in a specified direction:the fishermen were steering a direct course for Koepang
  • [with object and adverbial of direction] guide the movement or course of:he had steered her to a chair figurativehe made an attempt to steer the conversation back to Heather

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] the type of steering of a vehicle:some cars boast four-wheel steer
  • 2 informal a piece of advice or information concerning the development of a situation:the need for the NHS to be given a clear steer as to its future direction

Phrases

steer clear of

take care to avoid or keep away from:steer clear of fatty food

steer a middle course

see middle.

Derivatives

steerable

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 US English dictionary

Nearby words

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