Meaning & use
a steep slope
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
a surface or piece of ground that rises or falls at a sharp angle, making it difficult to climb or walk on.
Grammar: Countable phrase; use 'a steep slope' for one, 'steep slopes' for more than one.
Patterns
- on a steep slope
- a steep slope of something
The hikers struggled up the steep slope.
The house was built on a steep slope overlooking the valley.
A steep slope can be dangerous in wet weather.
Word forms
| plural | steep slopes |
|---|
Common combinations
- climb a steep slope
- We had to climb a steep slope to reach the top.
- on a steep slope
- The goats grazed on a steep slope.
- steep slope of the mountain
- The steep slope of the mountain made climbing difficult.
- dangerous steep slope
- That dangerous steep slope is closed to the public.
Synonyms and how they differ
- incline
- A more formal word for a slope or slanting surface; 'steep slope' is more everyday.
- hillside
- The side of a hill, which may or may not be steep; 'steep slope' emphasizes the sharp angle.
- gradient
- A technical term for the degree of steepness, often used in math or engineering.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: a steep slope or slope?
a steep slope vs slope
The phrase includes the adjective 'steep'; 'slope' alone just means a slanting surface, which could be gentle or steep.
Practice
The road up the mountain was a ______, so we drove slowly.
Choose one answer.
'Steep slope' fits because it describes a sharp incline that requires slow driving. A gentle slope is not steep, and a flat road or straight line would not make driving slow.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a steep slope”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.