steer

¹

[ steer ]

verb (used with object)

1. to guide the course of (something in motion) by a rudder, helm, wheel, etc.:

   to steer a bicycle.

2. to follow or pursue (a particular course).
3. to direct the course of; guide:

   I can steer you to the best restaurant in town.

verb (used without object)

1. to direct the course of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, or the like, by the use of a rudder or other means.
2. to pursue a course of action.
3. (of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, etc.) to be steered or guided in a particular direction or manner.

noun

1. Informal. a suggestion about a course of action; tip:

   He got a good steer about finding the right job.

steer

²

[ steer ]

noun

, plural steers, (especially collectively) steer.

1. a male bovine that is castrated before sexual maturity, especially one raised for beef.

steer

³

[ steer ]

verb (used with or without object)

, British Dialect.

1. stir ¹.

steer

¹

/ stɪə /

noun

1. a castrated male ox or bull; bullock

steer

²

/ stɪə /

verb

1. to direct the course of (a vehicle or vessel) with a steering wheel, rudder, etc
2. tr to guide with tuition

   his teachers steered him through his exams

3. tr to direct the movements or course of (a person, conversation, etc)
4. to pursue (a specified course)
5. intr (of a vessel, vehicle, etc) to admit of being guided in a specified fashion

   this boat does not steer properly

6. steer clear of
   to keep away from; shun

noun

1. information; guidance (esp in the phrase a bum steer )

Derived Forms

• ˈsteerable, adjective
• ˈsteerer, noun

Other Words From

• steera·ble adjective
• steera·bili·ty noun
• un·steera·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of steer¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English steren, stere, stieren, Old English stēoran, stēran, stíoran, stýran, akin to stēor, stýr “steering, guidance”; cognate with German steuern, Old Norse stȳra, Gothic stiurjan

Origin of steer²

First recorded before 900; Middle English ster(e), Old English stēor “young bull or ox,” cognate with Dutch, German Stier, Old Norse stjōrr, Gothic stiur

Word History and Origins

Origin of steer¹

Old English stēor; related to Old Norse stjōrr, Gothic stiur, Old High German stior, Middle Dutch stēr

Origin of steer²

Old English stieran; related to Old Frisian stiūra, Old Norse stӯra, German stevern; see starboard , stern ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. steer clear of, to stay away from purposely; avoid:

   She steered clear of any deep emotional involvements.

More idioms and phrases containing steer

In addition to the idiom beginning with steer , also see bum steer .

Example Sentences

But some Anglicans have been upset because they feel that Justin Welby had done much good and, however slowly, was trying to steer the Church in a better direction.

From BBC

“When making this series, I constantly asked myself ‘do we humans have what it takes to steer the world off this downhill path?’.

From BBC

Miss Steer did not attend the hearing, but apologised in a written submission to a previous hearing.

From BBC

Miss Steer's "misconduct in 'normalising' the drinking of alcohol on duty was a serious breach of... professional standards".

From BBC

Miss Steer told the panel in writing "she had made a mistake by drinking alcohol on shift and offering alcoholic drinks to her colleagues".

From BBC

Related Words

• drive
• escort
• govern
• herd
• shepherd