steer definition | Dictionary.com

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)

4.	to direct the course of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, or the like, by the use of a rudder or other means.

5.	to pursue a course of action.

6.	(of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, etc.) to be steered or guided in a particular direction or manner.

–noun

7.	Informal. a suggestion about a course of action; tip: He got a good steer about finding the right job.

—Idiom

8.	steer clear of, to stay away from purposely; avoid: She steered clear of any deep emotional involvements.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME steren, OE stēoran, akin to stēor steering, guidance; c. G steuern, ON stȳra, Goth stiurjan

Related forms:

steer⋅a⋅ble, adjective

steer⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun

steer

2 [steer]

–noun, plural steers, (especially collectively

) steer.

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

Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE stēor; c. D, G Stier, ON stjōrr, Goth stiur

steer

3 [steer]

–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), noun British Dialect.

stir ¹ .

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To steer

steer¹ (stîr)

v. steered, steer·ing, steers

v. tr.

To guide by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or wheel.
1. To direct the course of. See Synonyms at conduct.
2. To maneuver (a person) into a place or course of action. See Synonyms at guide.

v. intr.

To guide a vessel or vehicle.
To follow or move in a set course.
To admit of being steered or guided: a craft that steers easily.

n. A piece of advice.

[Middle English steren, from Old English stēran; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
steer'a·ble adj., steer'er n.

steer² (stîr)

n. A young ox, especially one castrated before sexual maturity and raised for beef.

[Middle English, from Old English stēor; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]

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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Steer

Steer\, n. [OE. steer, AS. ste['o]r; akin to D. & G. stier a bull, OHG. stior, Icel. stj[=o]rr, ?j[=o]rr, Sw. tjur, Dan. tyr, Goth. stiur, Russ. tur', Pol. tur, Ir. & Gael. tarbh, W. tarw, L. taurus, Gr. ?, Skr. sth?ra strong, stout, AS. stor large, Icel. st[=o]rr, OHG. st?ri, stiuri. [root]168. Cf. Stirk, Taurine, a.] A young male of the ox kind; especially, a common ox; a castrated taurine male from two to four years old. See the Note under Ox.

Steer

Steer\, v. t. To castrate; -- said of male calves.

Steer

Steer\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steered; p. pr. & vb. n. Steering.] [OE. steeren, steren, AS. sti['e]ran, st?ran, ste['o]ran; akin to OFries. stiora, stiura, D. sturen, OD. stieren, G. steuren, OHG. stiuren to direct, support, G. steuer contribution, tax, Icel. st?ra to steer, govern,Sw. styra, Dan. styre, Goth. stiurjan to establish, AS. ste['o]r a rudder, a helm, and probably to Icel. staurr a pale, stake, Gr. ?, and perhaps ultimately to E. stand. [root]168. Cf. Starboard, Stern, n.] To direct the course of; to guide; to govern; -- applied especially to a vessel in the water.

That with a staff his feeble steps did steer. --Spenser.

Steer

Steer\, v. i. 1. To direct a vessel in its course; to direct one's course. "No helmsman steers." --Tennyson.

2. To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm; as, the boat steers easily.

Where the wind Veers oft, as oft [a ship] so steers, and shifts her sail. --Milton.

3. To conduct one's self; to take or pursue a course of action.

Steer

Steer\, n. [AS. ste['o]r, sti['o]r; akin to D. stuur, G. steuer, Icel. st?ri. [root]186. See Steer, v. t.] [Written also stere.] A rudder or helm. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Steer

Steer\, n. [AS. ste['o]ra. See Steer a rudder.] A helmsman, a pilot. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Language Translation for : steer

Italian: giovenco, manzo,

German: der Schlachtochse,

Japanese: 子牛

More Translations »

steer (v.)

"guide the course of a vehicle," O.E. steran (Mercian), stieran (W.Saxon), from P.Gmc. *steurijanan (cf. O.N. styra, O.Fris. stiora, Du. sturen, O.H.G. stiuren, Ger. steuern "to steer," Goth. stiurjan "to establish, assert"), related to *steuro "rudder" (cf. O.E. steor "helm, rudder," Ger. Steuer and first element in starboard), from PIE *steu-ro- (cf. Gk. stauros "stake, pole"), from base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). The notion is of a stiff, upright pillar or post used in steering. To steer clear of in the fig. sense of "to avoid completely" is recorded from 1723. Steerage (1399) was the steering apparatus of a ship before the introduction of the deck wheel; meaning "section of a ship with the cheapest accommodations" first recorded 1804. Steering committee in the U.S. political sense is recorded from 1887.

steer (n.)

"young ox," O.E. steor "bullock," from P.Gmc. *steuraz (cf. O.S. stior, O.N. stjorr, Swed. tjur, Dan. tyr, M.Du., Du., Ger. stier, Goth. stiur "bull"), perhaps from PIE *steu-ro-, a base denoting "strength, sturdiness" (see taurus).

steer

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

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