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steady

 - 5 dictionary results

stead⋅y

  [sted-ee] adjective, stead⋅i⋅er, stead⋅i⋅est, interjection, noun, plural stead⋅ies, verb, stead⋅ied, stead⋅y⋅ing, adverb
–adjective
1. firmly placed or fixed; stable in position or equilibrium: a steady ladder.
2. even or regular in movement: the steady swing of the pendulum.
3. free from change, variation, or interruption; uniform; continuous: a steady diet of meat and potatoes; a steady wind.
4. constant, regular, or habitual: a steady job.
5. free from excitement or agitation; calm: steady nerves.
6. firm; unfaltering: a steady gaze; a steady hand.
7. steadfast or unwavering; resolute: a steady purpose.
8. settled, staid, or sober, as a person, habits, etc.
9. Nautical. (of a vessel) keeping nearly upright, as in a heavy sea.
–interjection
10. (used to urge someone to calm down or be under control.)
11. Nautical. (a helm order to keep a vessel steady on its present heading.)
–noun
12. Informal. a person of the opposite sex whom one dates exclusively; sweetheart; boyfriend or girlfriend.
13. Informal. a steady visitor, customer, or the like; habitué.
–verb (used with object)
14. to make or keep steady, as in position, movement, action, character, etc.: His calm confidence steadied the nervous passengers.
–verb (used without object)
15. to become steady.
–adverb
16. in a firm or steady manner: Hold the ladder steady.
17. Informal. steadily, regularly, or continuously: Is she working steady now?
—Idiom
18. go steady, Informal. to date one person exclusively: Her father didn't approve of her going steady at such an early age.
Use steady in a Sentence
Origin:
1520–30; 1905–10 for def. 12; stead + -y 1

Related forms:
stead⋅i⋅ly, adverb
stead⋅i⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. balanced. 3. undeviating, invariable. 7. See steadfast.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To steady
stead·y   (stěd'ē)   
adj.   stead·i·er, stead·i·est

  1. Firm in position or place; fixed.

  2. Direct and unfaltering; sure.

  3. Free or almost free from change, variation, or fluctuation; uniform: a steady increase in value; a steady breeze.

  4. Not easily excited or upset: steady nerves.

  5. Unwavering, as in purpose; steadfast.

  6. Reliable; dependable.

  7. Temperate; sober.

tr. & intr.v.   stead·ied, stead·y·ing, stead·ies
To make or become steady.
interj.   Nautical
Used to direct a helmsman to keep a ship's head in the same direction: Steady as she goes!
n.   pl. stead·ies
The person whom one dates regularly, usually exclusively.
stead'i·er n., stead'i·ly adv., stead'i·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
steady

  1. n.
    a boyfriend or girlfriend. : She showed up with Tom, her steady for the past few months.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

steady 
1530, replacing earlier steadfast, from stead + adj. suffix -y, perhaps on model of M.Du., M.L.G. stadig. O.E. had stæððig "grave, serious," and stedig "barren," but neither seems to be the direct source of the modern word. O.N. cognate stoðugr "steady, stable" was closer in sense. Originally of things; of persons or minds from 1602. Meaning "working at an even rate" is first recorded in 1548. The verb also is first recorded 1530. Noun meaning "one's boyfriend or girlfriend" is from 1897; to go steady is 1905 in teenager slang. Steady progress is etymologically a contradiction in terms. Steady state first attested 1885; as a cosmological theory (propounded by Bondi, Gold, and Hoyle), it is attested from 1948.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

steady

In addition to the idiom beginning with steady, also see go steady; slow but sure (steady wins the race).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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