steep slope

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A piece of ground or surface that rises or falls at a sharp angle.

   Grammar: Countable: a steep slope, several steep slopes.

   Patterns

   • climb a steep slope
   • a steep slope down to something

   We struggled to climb the steep slope behind the farm.

   Snow can slide quickly down a steep slope.

   The path ran along a steep slope above the river.

2. 2nouncountablemathematics

   In math, a line or graph with a large vertical change compared with its horizontal change.

   Grammar: Countable: the graph has a steep slope.

   Patterns

   • a steep slope on a graph

   The graph has a steep slope at the start, showing rapid growth.

   A line with a steep slope rises quickly.

   A steeper slope means the rate of change is greater.

Word forms

Common combinations

climb a steep slope

The hikers climbed a steep slope all morning.

ski down a steep slope

He skied down a steep slope with ease.

a steep slope on a graph

A steep slope on a graph means a rapid change.

build on a steep slope

It is expensive to build on a steep slope.

a steep slope of a hill

Grass grew on the steep slope of the hill.

Synonyms and how they differ

incline

Incline is a more formal word for any sloping surface and need not be sharp, whereas steep slope stresses sharpness.

gradient

Gradient is more technical and gives a measurement of the slope, often in roads or maths.

hillside

Hillside names the side of a hill but does not tell us how sharp it is.

escarpment

An escarpment is a long, steep cliff-like slope, so it is larger and more geological than a steep slope.

Opposites

Word family

steep adjective

rising sharply

steeply adverb

in a sharp, sudden way

steepness noun

how sharp a slope is

slope noun

a surface that goes up or down

Commonly confused: steep slope or gentle slope?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “steep slope”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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