steer1

[steer] /stɪər/
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.
Idioms
8.
steer clear of, to stay away from purposely; avoid:
She steered clear of any deep emotional involvements.
Origin
before 900; Middle English steren, Old English stēoran, akin to stēor steering, guidance; cognate with German steuern, Old Norse stȳra, Gothic stiurjan
Related forms
steerable, adjective
steerability, noun
unsteerable, adjective

steer2

[steer] /stɪər/
noun, plural steers (especially collectively) steer.
1.
a male bovine that is castrated before sexual maturity, especially one raised for beef.
Origin
before 900; Middle English; Old English stēor; cognate with Dutch, German Stier, Old Norse stjōrr, Gothic stiur

steer3

[steer] /stɪər/
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), noun, British Dialect
1.
stir1 .
Examples from the web for steer
  • The usual cognitive and motivational processes that steer behavior in socially desirable paths no longer guide people.
  • Also steer clear of lightweight or shriveled bulbs, since these may have lost too much moisture to recover well.
  • But first economics limited that and now violence may steer others away.
  • As someone who grew up during the shuttle's early days, the program helped steer me down a scientific path.
  • Bill's business instincts steer his foundation's direction.
  • With that and a prayer, the skipper was able to steer the freighter to safety.
  • There's also the human-to-human connection with bookmobile librarians, who steer and inspire their visitors' reading patterns.
  • In midafternoon, the boatmen steer the pirogue to the edge of a swamp forest and tie it to a tree trunk.
  • It's likewise practical to steer those interested toward a public-policy-friendly dissertation topic.
  • Which is why, despite his impulse to steer clear of the site, he still checks it occasionally.
British Dictionary definitions for steer

steer1

/stɪə/
verb
1.
to direct the course of (a vehicle or vessel) with a steering wheel, rudder, etc
2.
(transitive) to guide with tuition: his teachers steered him through his exams
3.
(transitive) to direct the movements or course of (a person, conversation, etc)
4.
to pursue (a specified course)
5.
(intransitive) (of a vessel, vehicle, etc) to admit of being guided in a specified fashion: this boat does not steer properly
6.
steer clear of, to keep away from; shun
noun
7.
(mainly US) information; guidance (esp in the phrase a bum steer)
Derived Forms
steerable, adjective
steerer, noun
Word Origin
Old English stieran; related to Old Frisian stiūra, Old Norse stӯra, German stevern; see starboard, stern²

steer2

/stɪə/
noun
1.
a castrated male ox or bull; bullock
Word Origin
Old English stēor; related to Old Norse stjōrr, Gothic stiur, Old High German stior, Middle Dutch stēr
Word Origin and History for steer
v.

"guide the course of a vehicle," Old English steran (Mercian), stieran (West Saxon), from Proto-Germanic *steurijanan (cf. Old Norse styra, Old Frisian stiora, Dutch sturen, Old High German stiuren, German steuern "to steer," Gothic stiurjan "to establish, assert"), related to *steuro "a rudder, a steering" (cf. Old English steor "helm, rudder," German Steuer and first element in starboard), from PIE *steu-ro- (cf. Greek stauros "stake, pole"), from root *sta- "to stand" (see stet).

The notion is of a stiff, upright pillar or post used in steering. To steer clear of in the figurative sense of "to avoid completely" is recorded from 1723. Related: Steered; steering. Steering committee in the U.S. political sense is recorded from 1887.

n.

"young ox," Old English steor "bullock," from Proto-Germanic *steuraz (cf. Old Saxon stior, Old Norse stjorr, Swedish tjur, Danish tyr, Middle Dutch, Dutch, German stier, Gothic stiur "bull"), perhaps from PIE *steu-ro-, a root denoting "strength, sturdiness" (see taurus).

Slang definitions & phrases for steer

steer

noun
  1. (also steerer) A person who steers patrons and victims: He is nothing but a steer for a bust-out joint (entry form 1939+, variant 1873+)
  2. Advice or information; a bit of useful data (1899+)
verb

To take or inveigle someone to a place or person where gamblers or confidence men might victimize him: I been steerin' for Schwiefka all day (1889+ Underworld)

Related Terms

bum steer


Idioms and Phrases with steer

steer

In addition to the idiom beginning with steer also see: bum steer