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steppe

steppe

8 7.5
A large flat area of grass with few or no trees
  • noun
  • /ˈstɛp/
translation icon : estepa
  • Here, the rolling steppe had turned hilly, trapping water and allowing the trees to grow.
  • sagebrush steppe
  • shortgrass steppe
  • steppe grassland

People on the western EUR Asian steppe domesticated horses.

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Examples

  • Campfires were springing up, flickering flames to cast back the shadows dotting the steppe from horizon to horizon.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Nomadic cultures on the steppes did not have the leisure time or fixed bases needed to build wheeled vehicles.

    Academic text (2004)
  • From the ancient steppes of Russia, ladies and gentlemen...

  • So that gives you the steppe climates of of Kenya, for example.

  • Generally speaking, the northern Sahil region features hot semi desert and steppe conditions.

  • I hired a caravan to cross the Russian steppes.

  • People on the western EUR Asian steppe domesticated horses.

  • To the west, undulating steppe stretched endlessly under a bright, boiling lead sky.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The Mamutoi were primarily hunters of the open steppes; fishing was only an occasional activity.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The vast steppe stretched out before us, covered in tall grass and wildflowers.

Synonyms

plain
vssteppe
98 1.0

A large flat area of land with few trees

is specifically a treeless grassland not just any flat open land
range
vssteppe
  • US
69 3.5

A large open area of grass where animals graze

is a natural flat grassland not defined by grazing use
prairie
vssteppe
  • US
60 3.2

A large flat area covered in tall grasses with very few trees

is the Eurasian flat grassland found in southeastern Europe or Siberia
grassland
vssteppe
20 2.7

An open area covered mainly with grass where animals live or graze

is a specific flat treeless type especially in southeastern Europe or Siberia
rangeland
vssteppe
2 6.6

Land with natural plants where animals like cattle graze

is the flat treeless Eurasian grassland rather than a managed grazing area

How Dry

desert
894 1.3
steppe
8 7.5

Surface Forms

steppe singular
steppes plural

Etymology

The word steppe comes from the Russian word step', which means 'plain' or 'open land'. So, a steppe is a large, treeless grassland, like the vast plains of Siberia and eastern Europe.