steep1

 
Pronunciation: /stiːp/

adjective

  • 1(of a slope, flight of stairs, or angle) rising or falling sharply; almost perpendicular: she pushed the bike up the steep hill
  • (of a rise or fall in an amount) very large or rapid: the steep rise in unemployment
  • 2 informal (of a price or demand) not reasonable; excessive: a steep membership fee
  • dated (of a claim or account) exaggerated or incredible: this is a rather steep statement

noun

chiefly Skiing or literary
  • a steep mountain slope: hair-raising steeps

Derivatives

steepish

adjective

steeply

adverb

steepness

noun

Origin:

Old English stēap 'extending to a great height', of West Germanic origin; related to steeple and stoop1