/stɪə/, /stɪɹ/, /stɪɚ/
OriginInherited from Middle English steeren, steren, stiren, sturen, steoren, from Old English stēoran, stīeran, stȳran (“to steer; guide a vessel”), from Proto-West Germanic *stiurijan (“to steer”), from Proto-Germanic *stiurijaną (“to steer”).
The noun is from Middle English steere, stere (“rudder”), steor, from Old English stēor, stȳr (“steering; guidance; direction”). Compare Dutch stuur, German Steuer, Icelandic stýri.
- intransitiveTo guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).
“The boat steered towards the iceberg.”
“I steered homeward.”
- transitiveTo guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).
“I find it very difficult to steer a skateboard.”
“When planning the boat trip, we had completely forgotten that we needed somebody to steer.”
“I leap on board: no helmsman steers: I float till all is dark.”
- intransitiveTo be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm.
“The boat steers easily.”
“Where the wind / Veers oft, as oft [a ship] so steers, and shifts her sail.”
- transitiveTo direct a group of animals.
- transitiveTo maneuver or manipulate a person or group into a place or course of action.
“Hume believes that principles of association steer the imagination of artists.”
- reflexiveTo conduct oneself; to take or pursue a course of action.
- transitiveTo direct a conversation.
- transitiveTo direct or send an object into a specific place
“Sterling, who scored the winners against Croatia and the Czech Republic in the group stage, steered in Luke Shaw's cross after 75 minutes to send England's fans, with more than 40,000 inside Wembley, ”
- transitiveTo castrate (a male calf).
- informalA suggestion about a course of action.
“I tried to give you the steer, but I guess I didn't get it over. Everybody knew it but you.”
- obsoleteA helmsman; a pilot.
- The castrated male of cattle, especially one raised for beef production.
“He counted the cattle over and over. It diverted him to speculate as to how much weight each of the steers would probably put on by spring.”
Formssteers(present, singular, third-person) · steering(participle, present) · steered(participle, past) · steered(past) · steers(plural) · Steers(plural)