Two kids are talking.
- My dad works twelve hours a day, so that I can have a comfortable home and decent clothes. My mom spends the whole day cleaning and cooking for me. However, I can not relax from all the worry.
- But you are living a fairytale life! What are you so worry about?
- Well, what if they try to escape?
n. - thick slice of meat (esp. Beef) or fish, usu. Grilled or fried.
- beef cut for stewing or braising. [old norse]
STEAL
—v. (past stole; past part. Stolen) 1 (also absol.) Take (another's property) illegally or without right or permission, esp. In secret.
- obtain surreptitiously, insidiously, or artfully (stole a kiss).
- (foll. By in, out, away, up, etc.) Move, esp. Silently or stealthily. —n. - us colloq. Act of stealing or theft.
- colloq. Easy task or good bargain. steal a march on get an advantage over by surreptitious means. Steal the show outshine other performers, esp. Unexpectedly. Steal a person's thunder take away the attention due to someone else by using his or her words, ideas, etc. [old english]
STEAM
engine n. - engine which uses steam to generate power.
- locomotive powered by this.
- hammer n. Forging-hammer powered by steam.
- iron n. Electric iron that emits steam.
- train n. Train pulled by a steam engine.
- —n. - a gas into which water is changed by boiling. B condensed vapour formed from this.
- a power obtained from steam. B colloq. Power or energy. —v. - a cook (food) in steam. B treat with steam.
- give off steam.
- a move under steam power. B (foll. By ahead, away, etc.) Colloq. Proceed or travel fast or with vigour.
- (usu. Foll. By up) a cover or become covered with condensed steam. B (as steamed up adj.) Colloq. Angry or excited. [old english]
STEED
n. Archaic or poet. Horse. [old english]
STEEL
band n. Band playing chiefly calypso-style music on percussion instruments made from oil drums.
- wool n. Abrasive substance consisting of a mass of fine steel shavings.
- —n. - strong malleable alloy of iron and carbon, used esp. For making tools, weapons, etc.
- strength, firmness (nerves of steel).
- steel rod for sharpening knives. —adj. Of or like steel. —v. (also refl.) Harden or make resolute. [old english]
STEEP
—adj. - sloping sharply.
- (of a rise or fall) rapid.
- (predic.) Colloq. A exorbitant; unreasonable. B exaggerated; incredible. —n. Steep slope; precipice. steepen v. Steepish adj. Steeply adv. Steepness n. [old english]
- —v. Soak or bathe in liquid. —n. - act of steeping.
- liquid for steeping. steep in 1 pervade or imbue with.
- make deeply acquainted with (a subject etc.). [old english]
STEER
v. - (also absol.) Guide (a vehicle, ship, etc.) With a wheel or rudder etc.
- direct or guide (one's course, other people, a conversation, etc.) In a specified direction. steer clear of avoid. steering n. [old english]
- n. = *bullock. [old english]
STELA
n. (pl. Stelae) (also stele) archaeol. Upright slab or pillar usu. Inscribed and sculpted, esp. As a gravestone. [latin and greek]
STERN
adj. Severe, grim; authoritarian. sternly adv. Sternness n. [old english]
- n. Rear part, esp. Of a ship or boat. [old norse: related to *steer1]
STICK
insect n. Insect with a twiglike body.
- n. - a short slender length of wood. B this as a support or weapon.
- thin rod of wood etc. For a particular purpose (cocktail stick).
- implement used to propel the ball in hockey or polo etc.
- gear lever.
- conductor's baton.
- sticklike piece of celery, dynamite, etc.
- (often prec. By the) punishment, esp. By beating.
- colloq. Adverse criticism.
- colloq. Piece of wood as part of a house or furniture. 10 colloq. Person, esp. When dull or unsociable. [old english]
- v. (past and past part. Stuck) 1 (foll. By in, into, through) insert or thrust (a thing or its point).
- stab.
- (foll. By in, into, on, etc.) A fix or be fixed on a pointed thing. B fix or be fixed (as) by a pointed end.
