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steep-sided

steep-sided

1 4.3
A thing with sides that rise almost straight up
  • adjective
  • /stiːp saɪdɪd/
translation icon : de paredes empinadas
  • When it rained, the steep-sided little canyon filled up with water.
  • a steep-sided valley

Examples

  • Surrounded by two-story-high walls, the villages were perched on steep-sided mesas, suggesting that their inhabitants built them with defense in mind.

    Academic text (2003)
  • To reach the hideout, a hiker must first scale Solar Cliffs and Cathedral Peak, and pass through Ndedema Gorge, a steep-sided valley.

    Academic text (2011)
  • An hour before dawn, they found a steep-sided wadi, drove in, and covered themselves with netting.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • I was separated from the mystery bird, a female, by a steep-sided clough above Buxton.

    Blog text (3)
  • Treading water, Gamay pirouetted and saw that she was at the bottom of a steep-sided circular hole.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Dunasbroc, as it is known, is a steep-sided conical stack linked to the land by a narrow ramp of rock.

    Academic text (2006)
  • This second gate and portcullis could trap the unwary attacker in its narrow, steep-sided space.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The climb out of the gorge wound around steep-sided buttes of decomposed granite.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Using millions of oyster and whelk shells, Precolumbian Indians had constructed tall, steep-sided mounds, ramps, and causeways.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The hikers carefully climbed the steep-sided cliff to enjoy the breathtaking view at the top.

Synonyms

steep
vssteep-sided
131 2.5

Having a very sharp slope or almost vertical angle

is used for objects that have very sharp, nearly vertical sides
precipitous
vssteep-sided
6 7.7

A very steep slope like a cliff that is dangerous to climb

is milder in tone, describing very sharp sides without implying danger
abrupt
vssteep-sided
5 4.7

A very steep slope or drop that is often dangerous

is about having very sharp sides but does not stress suddenness or danger
bold
vssteep-sided
4 6.3

Very steep and almost straight up, like a cliff

is used for objects with very sharp sides rather than striking appearance
perpendicular
vssteep-sided
1 6.7

So steep that it drops almost straight down

is about having very sharp sides rather than precise vertical alignment
clifflike
vssteep-sided
1 5.4

Very steep and high with a sharp drop at the edge

is specific to having very sharp, nearly vertical sides rather than mere resemblance
cliffed
vssteep-sided
7.0

A place with steep rock sides along its edge

is about objects with very sharp, nearly vertical sides rather than only rock faces

Antonyms

75 3.0

Happening slowly and steadily, not suddenly

27 1.0

Not steep and rising slowly

How Steep

vertical
  • Jargon
3 3.2
steep-sided
1 4.3
sloping
3.1

Surface Forms

steep-sided positive

Morphology

steep-sided = steep (transparent) = steep + sided

The meaning 'having steep sides' follows directly from 'steep' plus the productive adjective-forming element '-sided', so learners who know 'steep' and 'side' can readily infer the sense.

Etymology

The word steep-sided comes from the simple parts steep ('rising sharply' or 'very slanted') and side ('side' or 'edge'), so it paints a picture of a hill or cliff with very sharp sides like a wall. That's why steep-sided means a slope, cliff, or valley with very steep or nearly vertical sides.