Steer
/stɪr/
verbnounB1
Definition
As a verb, steer means to control the direction of something that moves, like a car, boat, or even a conversation. It is the action of guiding where something goes. As a noun, steer refers to a young male cow that has been castrated and is usually raised for beef.
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See It in Action
Verb: To guide or control the direction of a vehicle or movement
- •She steered the car carefully around the sharp curve.
- •The captain steered the ship through rough waters.
- •Try to steer the conversation away from politics.
Noun: A castrated male cow raised for beef
- •The farm raised steers for meat production.
- •The steer weighed over 1,000 pounds before the sale.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "steer" like "drive" (A1 word), but "steer" focuses more on the act of choosing and controlling the direction, not just moving forward.
- ✓Picture holding a steering wheel or a handle and turning it left or right to change where you go.
- ✓It's the feeling of responsibility when you guide a group or control a vehicle safely.
- ✓Sounds like "steer" → imagine a strong animal (a steer, the noun) pulling a cart, helping guide the way.
- ✓In stories, a captain steers a ship through a storm, carefully choosing the safest path.
- ✓As a noun, "steer" (the animal) is different from "cow" because it is a male cow raised for meat, not for milk.
- ✓NOT like "push" (force forward), "steer" is about direction and control.
- ✓NOT like "walk" (self-move), "steer" often involves guiding something else.
- ✓NOT like "drive" (which can mean controlling speed and movement), "steer" is only about direction.
- ✓NOT like "bull" (male cow not castrated), a steer is castrated and calmer.
Try Other Words
- •Navigate: to plan and control the direction of travel (Use when emphasizing planning and finding the way, especially in travel)
- •Direct: to control or manage the course or movement (Use when talking about giving orders or managing a process)
- •Pilot: to control the movement of a vehicle, especially an aircraft or ship (Use when referring to flying or sailing)
- •Drive: to operate a vehicle (Use when focusing on moving the vehicle, not just direction)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix) root word "steer"
- •Etymology: From Old English "steoran," meaning to guide or control the movement of a vehicle or animal
- •Historical development: Originally used for guiding animals like oxen or horses, later extended to vehicles and abstract uses like conversations
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for controlling cars, boats, or figuratively controlling discussions or plans
- •Interesting fact: The noun "steer" for the animal comes from the same root because these animals were often guided or controlled
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think steering a conversation is similar to steering a car? How is it different?
•Can you think of times when you had to steer a group or project? What challenges did you face?
Fill in the blanks
1.When driving, you must steer the car carefully to avoid ___ on the road.
2.The captain steered the ship ___ the storm to keep everyone safe.
3.She tried to steer the conversation ___ a more positive topic during the meeting.
4.A steer is different from a bull because it has been ___.
5.To steer well, you need to pay attention to the ___ around you.
6.He learned how to steer a boat before he learned how to ___ a car.
7.When you steer a vehicle, you usually turn the ___ to change direction.