steep
- adj. 陡峭的, 险峻的
- adj. 价格高昂的, 过高的
- Definition
- adj. rising or falling sharply, almost straight up
- adj. very expensive or unreasonably high in price
- Example
- The path up the hill was steep and tiring.
- 上山的小路又陡又累人。
Synonyms & Differences 近义词辨析
Compared meaning: very steep (adjective).
比较义项：陡峭的（形容词）。
- steep 本词
The common, neutral word for a sharp slope or incline; used freely for both literal terrain and figurative sharp rises, in everyday speech and writing.
最常用、最中性的说法，指陡峭的坡度或斜坡；既可用于字面的地形，也可用于比喻性的急剧变化，口语和书面语中都很常见。
The path up the hill was steep and tiring.
上山的小路很陡峭，走起来很累人。
- precipitous
A stronger, more formal word for an extremely sharp slope or drop; especially common in figurative use for a sudden, dramatic decline, such as in prices or numbers.
语气更强、更正式的说法，指极其陡峭的坡度或下降；尤其常见于比喻性语境，形容价格或数字等的骤然下跌。
Stock prices took a precipitous drop after the announcement.
消息公布后，股价出现了断崖式下跌。
Steep and precipitous both mean very steep, but steep is common and neutral, for real slopes and figurative use. Precipitous is more formal and stronger, often for a sudden, dramatic drop, as in prices. Not compared: precipitous meaning hasty.
steep 和 precipitous 在“陡峭”这一义项上意思相近，但语气强弱和使用场合不同：steep 是最常用、最中性的说法，precipitous 更正式，语气更强，多用于比喻性的骤降。这里不比较 precipitous 表示“仓促的、不假思索的”这一义项。