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steer

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steer¹

  • /stɪə/ Australia, UK
  • /stɪː/ British, Southern, Standard
  • /stɪjə/ British, Southern, Standard
  • /stɪɹ/ US
  • /stɪɚ/ US
  • /stiə/ New Zealand
  • /stiɾ/ Scotland
  • [stiːɾ] Scotland
  • /stɛː/

Rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

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.

verb steers · steering · steered

  1. intransitive To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel). The boat steered towards the iceberg.
  2. transitive To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel). I find it very difficult to steer a skateboard.
  3. intransitive To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm. The boat steers easily.
  4. transitive To direct a group of animals.
  5. transitive To maneuver or manipulate a person or group into a place or course of action. Hume believes that principles of association steer the imagination of artists.
  6. reflexive To conduct oneself; to take or pursue a course of action.
  7. transitive To direct a conversation.
  8. transitive To direct or send an object into a specific place Sterling, who scored the winners against Croatia and the Czech Republic in the group stage, steered in Luke Shaw's cross after 75 minutes to send England's fans, with more than 40,000 inside Wembley, into wild celebrations.

noun steers

  1. informal A suggestion about a course of action. I tried to give you the steer, but I guess I didn't get it over. Everybody knew it but you.
  2. obsolete A helmsman; a pilot.

steer²

  • /stɪə/ Australia, UK
  • /stɪː/ British, Southern, Standard
  • /stɪjə/ British, Southern, Standard
  • /stɪɹ/ US
  • /stɪɚ/ US
  • /stiə/ New Zealand
  • /stiɾ/ Scotland
  • [stiːɾ] Scotland
  • /stɛː/

Rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

Inherited from Middle English steer, ster, from Old English stēor (“a young bull or cow; steer”), from Proto-Germanic *steuraz (“bull; steer”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)táwros (“wild bull; aurochs”). Cognate with Dutch stier, German Stier, Icelandic stjór, Latin taurus (“bull”), Greek ταύρος (távros). Doublet of tur and Taurus.

noun steers

  1. The castrated male of cattle, especially one raised for beef production. He counted the cattle over and over. It diverted him to speculate as to how much weight each of the steers would probably put on by spring.

    Similar: ox

verb steers · steering · steered

  1. transitive To castrate (a male calf).

Steer³

proper noun Steers

  1. A surname.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: wind, maneuver, tip, head, guide, lead, bullock, point, hint, direct, confidential information, manouevre, navigate, pilot, channel, target

Translations

Every language

verb intransitive: guide the course

Españoldirigir, conducir
日本語操縦する sōjū suru, 舵を取る kaji wo toru, 操舵する sōda suru, 運転する unten suru
中文掌舵 zhǎngduò, 驾驶 jiàshǐ
Portuguêsdirecionar, guiar
Françaisconduire, guider, diriger, piloter, barrer
Deutschsteuern
Italianosterzare
Românăconduce, cârmi, dirija
Русскийуправля́ть upravljátʹ
العربيةقَادَ qāda
עבריתנוהג nohég

verb transitive: guide the course of

Españoldirigir, conducir, guiar
日本語操縦する sōjū suru, 舵を取る kaji wo toru, 操舵する sōda suru, 運転する unten suru
中文指导 zhǐdǎo, 引导 yǐndǎo
Portuguêsdirecionar, guiar
Deutschsteuern
Italianoguidare, dirigere, governare, manovrare
Românăconduce
Русскийпра́вить рулём právitʹ ruljóm, управля́ть upravljátʹ, води́ть vodítʹ
العربيةقَادَ qāda
עבריתנוהג ב־ nohég b-

verb direct a group of animals

Españolllevar
日本語率いる hikiiru, 導く michibiku
中文驱赶 qūgǎn
Portuguêsconduzir
Italianocondurre
עבריתנוהג nohég

verb maneuver or manipulate a person or group into a place or course of action

日本語率いる hikiiru, 導く michibiku
中文控制 kòngzhì, 掌管 zhǎnguǎn
Portuguêslevar a
Русскийвести́ vestí
עבריתמוביל movíl

verb direct the conversation

Españolmanejar, dirigir
日本語導く michibiku
हिन्दीबात आगे बढ़ाना bāt āge baṛhānā
Portuguêsdirecionar
Italianocondurre
Русскийвести́
עבריתמנהל, מנחה mankhé

noun informal: suggestion about course of action

日本語助言 jogen
中文指导 zhǐdǎo, 引导 yǐndǎo

noun castrated male of cattle

Españolbuey
한국어수송아지 susong'aji
日本語去勢雄牛
中文閹公牛 /阉公牛 yān gōng niú
Portuguêsboi
Françaisbœuf
DeutschOchse, Mastochse
Italianomanzo, bue
Românăbou
Русскийкастри́рованный бычо́к kastrírovannyj byčók, бычо́к-кастра́т byčók-kastrát, молодо́й во́л molodój vól
العربيةثَوْر ṯawr

verb castrate a male calf

中文阉割 yāngē
Portuguêscapar, castrar

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Cite this
MLA

"steer." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/steer. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

steer. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/steer

Chicago

"steer." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/steer.

BibTeX
@misc{steer_2026,
  title = {steer},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/steer},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}