Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

steek

/stiːk/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.28 in modern English

Syllables: steek
IPA: /stiːk/

9

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To stitch (sew with a needle).

verb

To shut or close.

verb

To use a technique for knitting garments such as sweaters in the round without interruption for openings or sleeves until the end.

noun

noun

The bridge of extra stitches used in the steeking technique.

Example Sentences

"Ake Ogilvie told the tale the next day to Ma Cleghorn, Ma lying at rest in her bed, she'd gone to bed with a steek in her side and as lying fair wearied till Ake looked in."

Etymology

From Scots steek, from Middle English steke (“to enclose”) and Middle Dutch steken (“to stitch”). Noun from Scots steek (“stitch”), from Middle Dutch steek (“stitch”). More at stick, stitch.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: steek, steken

Inflected Forms

steeks (present, singular) steeking (participle, present) steeked (participle, past) steeked (past) steik (alternative) steeks (plural)

Questions

How do you pronounce steek?: The recorded pronunciation is /stiːk/.
What does steek mean?: To stitch (sew with a needle).
Where does steek come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce steek

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “steek”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/stiːk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “steek”.
Repeat and practice — Say “steek” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.