steer

Etymology 1

From Middle English steeren, steren, stiren, sturen, steoren, from Old English stēoran, stīeran, stȳran (“to steer; guide a vessel”), from Proto-West Germanic *stiurijan (“to steer”), from Proto-Germanic *stiurijaną (“to steer”). The noun is from Middle English steere, stere (“rudder”), steor, from Old English stēor, stȳr (“steering; guidance; direction”). Compare Dutch stuur, German Steuer, Icelandic stýri.

verb

1. (intransitive) To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).
   The boat steered towards the iceberg.
   I steered homeward.
2. (transitive) To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).
   I find it very difficult to steer a skateboard.
   When planning the boat trip, we had completely forgotten that we needed somebody to steer.
   I leap on board: no helmsman steers: I float till all is dark. 1842, Lord Alfred Tennyson, Sir Galahad
3. (intransitive) To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm.
   The boat steers easily.
   Where the wind / Veers oft, as oft [a ship] so steers, and shifts her sail. 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 9
4. (transitive) To direct a group of animals.
5. (transitive) To maneuver or manipulate a person or group into a place or course of action.
   Hume believes that principles of association steer the imagination of artists.
6. (reflexive) To conduct oneself; to take or pursue a course of action.
7. (transitive) To direct a conversation.
8. (transitive) To direct or send an object into a specific place
   Sterling, who scored the winners against Croatia and the Czech Republic in the group stage, steered in Luke Shaw's cross after 75 minutes to send England's fans, with more than 40,000 inside Wembley, into wild celebrations. June 29 2021, Phil McNulty, “England 2-0 Germany”, in BBC Sport

noun

1. (informal) A suggestion about a course of action.
   I tried to give you the steer, but I guess I didn't get it over. Everybody knew it but you. 1939, Mark Hellinger, The Roaring Twenties
2. (obsolete) A helmsman; a pilot.

Etymology 2

From Middle English steer, ster, from Old English stēor (“a young bull or cow; steer”), from Proto-Germanic *steuraz (“bull; steer”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)táwros (“wild bull; aurochs”). Cognate with Dutch stier, German Stier, Icelandic stjór, Latin taurus (“bull”), Greek ταύρος (távros). Doublet of tur.

noun

1. The castrated male of cattle, especially one raised for beef production.
   He counted the cattle over and over. It diverted him to speculate as to how much weight each of the steers would probably put on by spring. 1913, Willa Cather, O Pioneers!, chapter 2

verb

1. (transitive) To castrate (a male calf).