Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

steer

/stɪə/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.72 in modern English

Syllables
steer
IPA
/stɪə/
5
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).

Intransitive verb

verb

To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).

Transitive verb

verb

To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm.

Intransitive verb

verb

To direct a group of animals.

Transitive verb

verb

To maneuver or manipulate a person or group into a place or course of action.

Transitive verb

verb

To conduct oneself; to take or pursue a course of action.

verb

To direct a conversation.

Transitive verb

verb

To direct or send an object into a specific place

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

Inherited 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.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: steeren, stēoran, *stiurijan, *stiurijaną, steere, stēor

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /stɪə/
  • British English: /stɪə/

Usage

Inflected Forms

steers (present, singular) steering (participle, present) steered (participle, past) steered (past) steers (plural)

Derived Forms

autosteer besteer countersteer missteer outsteer oversteer resteer skidsteer starboard steerability steerable steerage

Phrases

course to steer self-steering shuffle steer steer clear differential steering steering wheel throttle steering torque steer

Frequently Paired Words

differential steering steering wheel throttle steering torque steer starboard bull calf cow

Synonyms

ox bullock tip lead confidential information wind hint maneuver manoeuver manoeuvre direct point

Rhymes With

year near clear career fear appear dear beer premier severe engineer gear

Questions

How do you pronounce steer?
The recorded pronunciation is /stɪə/.
What does steer mean?
To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).
Where does steer come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce steer

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