A father and son went fishing one day. While they were out in the boat, the boy suddenly became curious about the world around him. He asked his father, "How does this boat float?"
The father replied, "Don"t rightly know, son."
A little later, the boy looked at his father and asked, "How do fish breath underwater?"
Once again the father replied, "Don"t rightly know, son."
A little later the boy asked his father, "Why is the sky blue?"
Again, the father replied, "Don"t rightly know, son."
Finally, the boy asked his father, "Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?"
The father replied, "Of course not, you don"t ask questions, you never learn nothin"."
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.
