Steep vs. Flat — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Steep and Flat
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Definitions
Steep➦
Having a sharp inclination; precipitous.
Flat➦
Having a level surface; without raised areas or indentations
He sat down on a flat rock
Trim the surface of the cake to make it completely flat
Steep➦
At a rapid or precipitous rate
A steep rise in imports.
Flat➦
Lacking emotion; dull and lifeless
‘I'm sorry,’ he said, in a flat voice
Steep➦
Excessive; stiff
A steep price.
Flat➦
(of a sparkling drink) having lost its effervescence
She sipped some of the flat champagne
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Steep➦
Ambitious; difficult
A steep undertaking.
Flat➦
(of a fee, wage, or price) the same in all cases, not varying with changed conditions or in particular cases
A flat fare of £2.50
Steep➦
A precipitous slope.
Flat➦
(of musical sound) below true or normal pitch.
Steep➦
The act or process of steeping.
Flat➦
Relating to flat racing
The Flat season
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Steep➦
The state of being steeped.
Flat➦
In or to a horizontal position
She had been knocked flat by the blast
He was lying flat on his back
Steep➦
A liquid, bath, or solution in which something is steeped.
Flat➦
Completely; absolutely
I thought you'd turn me down flat
Myers was flat broke
Steep➦
To immerse in liquid for a period of time, as to cleanse, treat, or extract a given property from
Steeped the cloth in red dye.
Steeped the tea bag in boiling water.
Flat➦
Below the true or normal pitch of musical sound
It wasn't a question of singing flat, but of simply singing the wrong notes
Steep➦
To involve or preoccupy thoroughly; immerse
As a child, she steeped herself in adventure stories.
Flat➦
The flat part of something
She placed the flat of her hand over her glass
Steep➦
To make thoroughly wet; saturate.
Flat➦
An upright section of stage scenery mounted on a movable frame.
Steep➦
To undergo a soaking in liquid
Let the tea steep for five minutes.
Flat➦
A flat tyre
I've got a flat—there were nails under the wheel
Steep➦
Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.
A steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep barometric gradient
Flat➦
Flat racing.
Steep➦
(informal) expensive
Twenty quid for a shave? That's a bit steep.
Flat➦
A musical note lowered a semitone below natural pitch.
Steep➦
(obsolete) Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.
Flat➦
A set of rooms forming an individual residence, typically on one floor and within a larger building containing a number of such residences.
A block of flats
Steep➦
(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
The steep rake of the windshield enhances the fast lines of the exterior.
Flat➦
Lower (a note) by a semitone
‘blue’ harmony emphasizing the flatted third and seventh
Steep➦
The steep side of a mountain etc.; a slope or acclivity.
Flat➦
Make flat; flatten
Flat the loaves down
Steep➦
A liquid used in a steeping process
Corn steep has many industrial uses.
Flat➦
Live in or share a flat
Zoë flats in Auckland
Steep➦
A rennet bag.
Flat➦
Having a smooth, even surface
A flat field.
Steep➦
To soak or wet thoroughly.
They steep skins in a tanning solution to create leather.
The tea is steeping.
Flat➦
Having a relatively broad level surface in relation to thickness or depth
A flat box.
Steep➦
To imbue with something; to be deeply immersed in.
A town steeped in history
Flat➦
Being in horizontal position; lying down
Flat on his back.
Steep➦
To make tea (or other beverage) by placing leaves in hot water.
Flat➦
Being without slope or curvature
A flat line on a chart.
Steep➦
Bright; glittering; fiery.
His eyen steep, and rolling in his head.
Flat➦
Having a low heel or no heel
Flat shoes.
Steep➦
Making a large angle with the plane of the horizon; ascending or descending rapidly with respect to a horizontal line or a level; precipitous; as, a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep declivity; a steep barometric gradient.
Flat➦
Free of qualification; absolute
A flat refusal.
Steep➦
Difficult of access; not easily reached; lofty; elevated; high.
Flat➦
Fixed; unvarying
A flat rate.
Steep➦
Excessive; as, a steep price.
Flat➦
Lacking interest or excitement; dull
A flat scenario.
Steep➦
To soak in a liquid; to macerate; to extract the essence of by soaking; as, to soften seed by steeping it in water. Often used figuratively.
Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep.
In refreshing dew to steepThe little, trembling flowers.
The learned of the nation were steeped in Latin.
Flat➦
Lacking in flavor
A flat stew that needs salt.
Steep➦
To undergo the process of soaking in a liquid; as, the tea is steeping.
Flat➦
Having lost effervescence or sparkle
Flat beer.
Steep➦
Something steeped, or used in steeping; a fertilizing liquid to hasten the germination of seeds.
Flat➦
Deflated. Used of a tire.
Steep➦
A rennet bag.
Flat➦
Electrically discharged. Used of a storage battery.
Steep➦
A precipitous place, hill, mountain, rock, or ascent; any elevated object sloping with a large angle to the plane of the horizon; a precipice.
We had on each side naked rocks and mountains broken into a thousand irregular steeps and precipices.
Bare steeps, where desolation stalks.
Flat➦
Of or relating to a horizontal line that displays no ups or downs and signifies the absence of physiological activity
A flat electroencephalogram indicates a loss of brain function.
Steep➦
A steep place (as on a hill)
Flat➦
Of or relating to a hierarchy with relatively few tiers or levels
A flat organization chart.
Steep➦
Engross (oneself) fully;
He immersed himself into his studies
Flat➦
Commercially inactive; sluggish
Flat sales for the month.
Steep➦
Let sit in a liquid to extract a flavor or to cleanse;
Steep the blossoms in oil
Steep the fruit in alcohol
Flat➦
Unmodulated; monotonous
A flat voice.
Steep➦
Having a sharp inclination;
The steep attic stairs
Steep cliffs
Flat➦
Lacking variety in tint or shading; uniform
"The sky was bright but flat, the color of oyster shells" (Anne Tyler).
Steep➦
Greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation;
Exorbitant rent
Extortionate prices
Spends an outrageous amount on entertainment
Usorious interest rate
Unconscionable spending
Flat➦
Not glossy; matte
Flat paint.
Steep➦
Of a slope; set at a high angle;
Note the steep incline
A steep roof sheds snow
Flat➦
Being below the correct pitch.
Flat➦
Being one half step lower than the corresponding natural key
The key of B flat.
Flat➦
Designating the vowel a as pronounced in bad or cat.
Flat➦
(Nautical) Taut. Used of a sail.
Flat➦
(Informal) Having small breasts.
Flat➦
Level with the ground; horizontally.
Flat➦
On or up against a flat surface; at full length.
Flat➦
So as to be flat.
Flat➦
Directly; completely
Went flat against the rules.
Flat broke.
Flat➦
Exactly; precisely
Arrived in six minutes flat.
Flat➦
(Music) Below the intended pitch.
Flat➦
(Business) Without interest charge.
Flat➦
A flat surface or part.
Flat➦
Often flats A stretch of level ground
Salt flats.
Flat➦
A shallow frame or box for seeds or seedlings.
Flat➦
A movable section of stage scenery, usually consisting of a wooden frame and a decorated panel of wood or cloth.
Flat➦
A flatcar.
Flat➦
A deflated tire.
Flat➦
A shoe with a flat heel.
Flat➦
A large flat piece of mail.
Flat➦
A horse that competes in a flat race. Also called runner.
Flat➦
A sign (♭) used to indicate that a note is to be lowered by a semitone.
Flat➦
A note that is lowered a semitone.
Flat➦
(Football) The area of the field to either side of an offensive formation.
Flat➦
An apartment on one floor of a building.
Flat➦
(Archaic) A story in a house.
Flat➦
To make flat; flatten.
Flat➦
(Music) To lower (a note) a semitone.
Flat➦
To sing or play below the proper pitch.
Flat➦
Having no variations in height.
The land around here is flat.
Flat➦
In a horizontal line or plane; not sloping.
A flat roof
Flat➦
Smooth; having no protrusions, indentations or other surface irregularities, or relatively so.
The surface of the mirror must be completely flat.
The carpet isn't properly flat in that corner.
She has quite a flat face.
Flat➦
(slang) Having small or invisible breasts and/or buttocks.
That girl is completely flat on both sides.
Flat➦
Without variation in level, quantity, value, tone etc.
The exchange rate has been flat for several weeks.
Flat➦
At a consistently depressed level; consistently lacklustre.
Sales have been flat all year, and we've barely broken even.
Flat➦
Of fees, fares etc., fixed; unvarying.
A flat fee
Flat rates
A flat fare on public transport
Flat➦
Without variations in pitch.
He delivered the speech in a flat tone.
Flat➦
(of colours) Without variation in tone or hue (uniform), and dull (not glossy).
The walls were painted a flat gray.
Flat➦
(figurative) Lacking liveliness or action; depressed; uninteresting; dull and boring.
The party was a bit flat.
The market is flat today as most traders are on holiday.
The dialogue in your screenplay is flat — you need to make it more exciting.
Flat➦
Lacking in depth, substance, or believability; underdeveloped; one-dimensional.
The author added a chapter to flesh out the book's flatter characters.
Flat➦
Lowered by one semitone.
Flat➦
(music) Of a note or voice, lower in pitch than it should be.
Your A string is flat.
Flat➦
Absolute; downright; peremptory.
His claim was in flat contradiction to experimental results.
I'm not going to the party and that's flat.
Flat➦
(of a tire or other inflated object) Deflated, especially because of a puncture.
Flat➦
(of a carbonated drink) With all or most of its carbon dioxide having come out of solution so that the drink no longer fizzes or contains any bubbles.
Flat➦
(wine) Lacking acidity without being sweet.
Flat➦
(of a battery) Unable to emit power; dead.
Flat➦
Without spin; spinless.
Flat➦
Sonant; vocal, as distinguished from a sharp (non-sonant) consonant.
Flat➦
(grammar) Not having an inflectional ending or sign, such as a noun used as an adjective, or an adjective as an adverb, without the addition of a formative suffix; or an infinitive without the sign "to".
Many flat adverbs, as in 'run fast', 'buy cheap', etc. are from Old English.
Flat➦
Having a head at a very obtuse angle to the shaft.
Flat➦
Flattening at the ends.
Flat➦
(of measurements of time) Exact.
He finished the race in a flat four minutes.
Flat➦
So as to be flat.
Spread the tablecloth flat over the table.
Flat➦
Bluntly.
I asked him if he wanted to marry me and he turned me down flat.
Flat➦
(of accurately measured timings) Exactly, precisely.
In the mile race, Smith's time was 3:58.56, and Brown's was four minutes flat.
Flat➦
Used to emphasize the smallness of the measurement.
He can run a mile in four minutes flat.
Flat➦
Completely.
I am flat broke this month.
Flat➦
Directly; flatly.
Flat➦
Without allowance for accrued interest.
The bonds are trading flat.
Flat➦
An area of level ground (sometimes covered with water).
The hovercraft skimmed across the open flats.
The eastern end of the salt flat; mud flat, tidal flat, flood flat
Flat➦
(in the phrase 'the flat') Level ground in general.
I can run on the flat but not up hills.
The going will be easier once we're through these mountains and onto the flat.
Flat➦
Level horse-racing ground, as contrasted with courses incorporating jumps, or the racing done on such ground.
This horse will do better over the flat.
Flat racing, the flat season
Flat➦
The area in the centre of a racecourse.
Flat➦
(music) A note played a semitone lower than a natural, denoted by the symbol ♭ placed after the letter representing the note (e.g., B♭) or in front of the note symbol (e.g. ♭♪).
The key of E♭ has three flats.
Flat➦
A flat tyre/flat tire.
Flat➦
(in the plural) A type of ladies' shoe with a very low heel.
She liked to walk in her flats more than in her high heels.
Flat➦
(in the plural) A type of flat-soled running shoe without spikes.
Flat➦
(painting) A thin, broad brush used in oil and watercolour painting.
Flat➦
The flat part of something:
Flat➦
(swordfighting) The flat side of a blade, as opposed to the sharp edge.
Flat➦
The palm of the hand, with the adjacent part of the fingers.
Flat➦
A wide, shallow container or pallet.
A flat of strawberries
Flat➦
(mail) A large mail piece measuring at least 8 1/2 by 11 inches, such as catalogs, magazines, and unfolded paper enclosed in large envelopes.
Flat➦
A railroad car without a roof, and whose body is a platform without sides; a platform car or flatcar.
Flat➦
A flat-bottomed boat, without keel, and of small draught.
Flat➦
(geometry) A subset of n-dimensional space that is congruent to a Euclidean space of lower dimension.
Flat➦
A straw hat, broad-brimmed and low-crowned.
Flat➦
A flat sheet for use on a bed.
Flat➦
(publishing) A flat, glossy children's book with few pages.
Flat➦
A platform on a wheel, upon which emblematic designs etc. are carried in processions.
Flat➦
(mining) A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein; also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal.
Flat➦
(technical, theatre, stagecraft) A rectangular wooden structure covered with masonite, lauan, or muslin, often produced in standard modules, that is used to build wall surfaces on stage. Flats can be painted and outfitted with doors and/or windows to depict a building or other part of a scene. It's a hard-surfaced alternative to a backcloth orbackdrop.
Flat➦
(entomology) Any of various hesperiid butterflies that spread their wings open when they land.
Flat➦
(historical) An early kind of toy soldier having a flat design.
Flat➦
(obsolete) A dull fellow; a simpleton.
Flat➦
(optics) A flat (i.e. plane) mirror
Flat➦
A cheater's die with the edges shaved to make certain rolls more likely.
Flat➦
An apartment, usually on one level and usually consisting of more than one room.
Flat➦
(poker slang) To make a flat call; to call without raising.
Flat➦
(intransitive) To become flat or flattened; to sink or fall to an even surface.
Flat➦
To fall from the pitch.
Flat➦
To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in pitch by half a tone.
Flat➦
To make flat; to flatten; to level.
Flat➦
To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress.
Flat➦
To beat or strike; pound
Flat➦
(transitive) To dash or throw
Flat➦
(intransitive) To dash, rush
Flat➦
Having an even and horizontal surface, or nearly so, without prominences or depressions; level without inclination; plane.
Though sun and moonWere in the flat sea sunk.
Flat➦
Lying at full length, or spread out, upon the ground; level with the ground or earth; prostrate; as, to lie flat on the ground; hence, fallen; laid low; ruined; destroyed.
What ruins kingdoms, and lays cities flat!
I feel . . . my hopes all flat.
Flat➦
Wanting relief; destitute of variety; without points of prominence and striking interest.
A large part of the work is, to me, very flat.
Flat➦
Tasteless; stale; vapid; insipid; dead; as, fruit or drink flat to the taste.
Flat➦
Unanimated; dull; uninteresting; without point or spirit; monotonous; as, a flat speech or composition.
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitableSeem to me all the uses of this world.
Flat➦
Lacking liveliness of commercial exchange and dealings; depressed; dull; as, the market is flat.
Flat➦
Clear; unmistakable; peremptory; absolute; positive; downright.
Flat burglary as ever was committed.
A great tobacco taker too, - that's flat.
Flat➦
Below the true pitch; hence, as applied to intervals, minor, or lower by a half step; as, a flat seventh; A flat.
Flat➦
Sonant; vocal; - applied to any one of the sonant or vocal consonants, as distinguished from a nonsonant (or sharp) consonant.
Flat➦
Having a head at a very obtuse angle to the shaft; - said of a club.
Flat➦
Not having an inflectional ending or sign, as a noun used as an adjective, or an adjective as an adverb, without the addition of a formative suffix, or an infinitive without the sign to. Many flat adverbs, as in run fast, buy cheap, are from AS. adverbs in -ë, the loss of this ending having made them like the adjectives. Some having forms in ly, such as exceeding, wonderful, true, are now archaic.
Flat➦
Flattening at the ends; - said of certain fruits.
Of all who fell by saber or by shot,Not one fell half so flat as Walter Scott.
Flat➦
In a flat manner; directly; flatly.
Sin is flat opposite to the Almighty.
Flat➦
Without allowance for accrued interest.
Flat➦
A level surface, without elevation, relief, or prominences; an extended plain; specifically, in the United States, a level tract along the along the banks of a river; as, the Mohawk Flats.
Envy is as the sunbeams that beat hotter upon a bank, or steep rising ground, than upon a flat.
Flat➦
A level tract lying at little depth below the surface of water, or alternately covered and left bare by the tide; a shoal; a shallow; a strand.
Half my power, this nightPassing these flats, are taken by the tide.
Flat➦
Something broad and flat in form
Flat➦
The flat part, or side, of anything; as, the broad side of a blade, as distinguished from its edge.
Flat➦
A floor, loft, or story in a building;
Flat➦
A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein; also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal.
Flat➦
A dull fellow; a simpleton; a numskull.
Or if you can not make a speech,Because you are a flat.
Flat➦
A character [$] before a note, indicating a tone which is a half step or semitone lower.
Flat➦
A homaloid space or extension.
Flat➦
To make flat; to flatten; to level.
Flat➦
To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress.
Passions are allayed, appetites are flatted.
Flat➦
To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in pitch by half a tone.
Flat➦
To become flat, or flattened; to sink or fall to an even surface.
Flat➦
To fall form the pitch.
Flat➦
A level tract of land
Flat➦
A shallow box in which seedlings are started
Flat➦
A musical notation indicating one half step lower than the note named
Flat➦
Freight car without permanent sides or roof
Flat➦
A deflated pneumatic tire
Flat➦
Scenery consisting of a wooden frame covered with painted canvas; part of a stage setting
Flat➦
A suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
Flat➦
Having a horizontal surface in which no part is higher or lower than another;
A flat desk
Acres of level farmland
A plane surface
Flat➦
Having no depth or thickness
Flat➦
Not modified or restricted by reservations;
A categorical denial
A flat refusal
Flat➦
Stretched out and lying at full length along the ground;
Found himself lying flat on the floor
Flat➦
Lacking contrast or shading between tones
Flat➦
Lowered in pitch by one chromatic semitone;
B flat
C sharp
Flat➦
Flattened laterally along the whole length (e.g., certain leafstalks or flatfishes)
Flat➦
Lacking taste or flavor or tang;
A bland diet
Insipid hospital food
Flavorless supermarket tomatoes
Vapid beer
Vapid tea
Flat➦
Lacking stimulating characteristics; uninteresting;
A bland little drama
A flat joke
Flat➦
Having lost effervescence;
Flat beer
A flat cola
Flat➦
Not increasing as the amount taxed increases
Flat➦
Not made with leavening;
Most flat breads are made from unleavened dough
Flat➦
Parallel to the ground;
A flat roof
Flat➦
Without pleats
Flat➦
Lacking the expected range or depth; not designed to give an illusion or depth;
A film with two-dimensional characters
A flat two-dimensional painting
Flat➦
(of a tire) completely or partially deflated
Flat➦
Not reflecting light; not glossy;
Flat wall paint
A photograph with a matte finish
Flat➦
Lacking variety in shading;
A flat unshaded painting
Flat➦
At full length;
He fell flat on his face
Flat➦
With flat sails;
Sail flat against the wind
Flat➦
Below the proper pitch;
She sang flat last night
Flat➦
Against a flat surface;
He lay flat on his back
Flat➦
In a forthright manner; candidly or frankly;
He didn't answer directly
Told me straight out
Came out flat for less work and more pay
Flat➦
Wholly or completely;
He is flat broke