The difference between Sheer and Steep
When used as nouns, sheer means a sheer curtain or fabric, whereas steep means the steep side of a mountain etc.
When used as verbs, sheer means to swerve from a course, whereas steep means to soak an item (or to be soaked) in liquid in order to gradually add or remove components to or from the item.
When used as adjectives, sheer means very thin or transparent, whereas steep means of a near-vertical gradient.
Sheer is also adverb with the meaning: clean.
check bellow for the other definitions of Sheer and Steep
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Sheer as an adjective (textiles):
Very thin or transparent.
Examples:
"Her light, sheer dress caught everyone’s attention."
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Sheer as an adjective (obsolete):
Pure in composition; unmixed; unadulterated.
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Sheer as an adjective (by extension):
Downright; complete; pure.
Examples:
"I think it is sheer genius to invent such a thing."
"This poem is sheer nonsense."
"Through technological wizardry and sheer audacity, Google has shown how we can transform the intellectual riches of our libraries...."
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Sheer as an adjective:
Examples:
"The army's sheer size made it impossible to resist."
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Sheer as an adjective:
Very steep; almost vertical or perpendicular.
Examples:
"It was a sheer drop of 180 feet."
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Sheer as an adverb (archaic):
Clean; quite; at once.
Examples:
"rfquotek Milton"
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Sheer as a noun:
A sheer curtain or fabric.
Examples:
"Use sheers to maximize natural light."
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Sheer as a noun (nautical):
The curve of the main deck or gunwale from bow to stern.
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Sheer as a noun (nautical):
An abrupt swerve from the course of a ship.
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Sheer as a verb (chiefly, nautical):
To swerve from a course.
Examples:
"A horse sheers at a bicycle."
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Sheer as a verb (obsolete):
To shear.
Examples:
"rfquotek Dryden"
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Steep as an adjective:
Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.
Examples:
"a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep barometric gradient"
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Steep as an adjective (informal):
expensive
Examples:
"Twenty quid for a shave? That's a bit steep."
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Steep as an adjective (obsolete):
Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.
Examples:
"rfquotek Chapman [[File:2010 Mazda CX-7 i Sport -- 08-04-2010.jpg thumb A car windshield like this is said to have a steep rake.]]"
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Steep as an adjective:
(of the rake of a ship's mast, or a car's windshield) resulting in a mast or windshield angle that strongly diverges from the perpendicular
Examples:
"The steep rake of the windshield enhances the fast lines of the exterior.'' [http://legacy.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20070303/news_lz1dd3maynard.html]"
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Steep as a noun:
The steep side of a mountain etc.; a slope or acclivity.
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Steep as a verb (ambitransitive):
To soak an item (or to be soaked) in liquid in order to gradually add or remove components to or from the item
Examples:
"They steep skins in a tanning solution to create leather."
"The tea is steeping."
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Steep as a verb (intransitive):
To imbue with something.
Examples:
"a town steeped in history"
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Steep as a noun:
A liquid used in a steeping process
Examples:
"Corn steep has many industrial uses."
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Steep as a noun:
A rennet bag.