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STEADY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: steadied , steadier , steadiest
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A person loved by another person
Synonyms:
steady; sweetheart; sweetie; truelove
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("steady" is a kind of...):
lover (a person who loves someone or is loved by someone)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "steady"):
dulcinea; ladylove (a woman who is a man's sweetheart)
sugar daddy (a wealthy older man who gives a young person expensive gifts in return for friendship or intimacy)
valentine (a sweetheart chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Not easily excited or upset
Example:
steady nerves
Classified under:
Similar:
unexcitable (not easily excited)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Relating to a person who does something regularly
Example:
a steady drinker
Synonyms:
regular; steady
Classified under:
Similar:
frequent (coming at short intervals or habitually)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
Example:
unwavering loyalty
Synonyms:
firm; steadfast; steady; stiff; unbendable; unfaltering; unshakable; unwavering
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
resolute (firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination)
Derivation:
steadiness (freedom from wavering or indecision; constancy of resolve or conduct)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Securely in position; not shaky
Example:
held the ladder steady
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
secure (not likely to fail or give way)
Derivation:
steadiness (the quality of being steady or securely and immovably fixed in place)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall
Example:
stocks are still firm
Synonyms:
firm; steady; unfluctuating
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
stable (resistant to change of position or condition)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Not subject to change or variation especially in behavior
Example:
a good steady ballplayer
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
dependable; rock-steady; steady-going (consistent in performance or behavior)
even; regular (occurring at fixed intervals)
firm ((of especially a person's physical features) not shaking or trembling)
level; unwavering (not showing abrupt variations)
steadied (made steady or constant)
sure (certain not to fail)
footsure; sure-footed; surefooted (not liable to stumble or fall)
Also:
unagitated (not agitated or disturbed emotionally)
even (being level or straight or regular and without variation as e.g. in shape or texture; or being in the same plane or at the same height as something else (i.e. even with))
stable (resistant to change of position or condition)
Antonym:
unsteady (subject to change or variation)
Derivation:
steadiness (the quality of being steady--regular and unvarying)
III. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they steady ... he / she / it steadies
Past simple: steadied
Past participle: steadied
-ing form: steadying
Sense 1
Meaning:
Make steady
Example:
steady yourself
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "steady" is one way to...):
stabilise; stabilize (become stable or more stable)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sense 2
Meaning:
Support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace
Example:
brace your elbows while working on the potter's wheel
Synonyms:
brace; stabilise; stabilize; steady
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "steady" is one way to...):
beef up; fortify; strengthen (make strong or stronger)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "steady"):
ballast (make steady with a ballast)
guy (steady or support with a guy wire or cable)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something
IV. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
In a steady manner
Example:
he could still walk steadily
Synonyms:
steadily; steady
Classified under:
Context examples:
A semi-solid composed of a solid, three dimensional, cross linked matrix of polymers within a liquid, yielding a jelly-like material unable to flow at steady state.
(Gel Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)
"Warm and steady," was his remark: he turned the key and opened the door.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
White Fang's strength was developed by the long hours on trail and the steady toil at the sled; and it would have seemed that his mental development was well-nigh complete.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
I need something of the sort to keep me steady.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
If you please, I am steadier now, and I have thought better of it, and I'll be as good a little wife as I can to him, for he's a dear, good fellow!
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Perhaps the research team’s biggest discovery, however, was the steady flow of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.
(New Study Brings Antarctic Ice Loss Into Sharper Focus, NASA)
Poor dear fellow! continued Mrs Musgrove; he was grown so steady, and such an excellent correspondent, while he was under your care!
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
His uplifted hand descended, and thereafter rose and fell in a swift and steady rhythm.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Move not the bow arm, and steady with the drawing hand!
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
As it filled, the Ghost’s bow swung off and I had to put the wheel down a few spokes and steady her.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
