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noun A2 Elementary Common

steak

stayk

Steak (noun) means a thick slice of meat, especially beef, cooked by grilling or frying. Example: “He ordered his steak medium-rare with a side of fries.”

noun
1
A thick slice of meat, especially beef, cooked by grilling or frying.
"He ordered his steak medium-rare with a side of fries."
"They grilled steaks on the barbecue all summer."
2
A thick slice cut from a fish, cut across rather than along the body.
"The salmon steak was pan-seared with lemon and herbs."

How to use steak

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA thick cut of meat or fish, typically cooked whole rather than minced or diced.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
steak and chips rare steak steak knife fish steak

Word forms

steaked past tense, steaks plural, steaks singular

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Test yourself on “steak” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He ordered his _____ medium-rare with a side of fries.

Etymology

From Old Norse steik, "roast" or "meat roasted on a stick."

Origin: Old Norse

Related words

Rhymes for steak

See all rhymes for steak →

Frequently asked questions

What does “steak” mean?

The word “steak” means a thick slice of meat, especially beef, cooked by grilling or frying. In plain terms, a thick cut of meat or fish, typically cooked whole rather than minced or diced.

How do you pronounce “steak”?

“Steak” is pronounced stayk (/steɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “steak” in a sentence?

Here is “steak” used in a sentence: “He ordered his steak medium-rare with a side of fries.”

What part of speech is “steak”?

“Steak” is a noun.

Where does the word “steak” come from?

The word “steak” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse steik, "roast" or "meat roasted on a stick.".

Is “steak” a common word?

“Steak” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “steak” have?

“Steak” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thick slice of meat, especially beef, cooked by grilling or frying.

What is the difference between "steak" and "stake"?

"Steak" is a thick slice of meat, especially beef, or a thick cross-cut slice of fish. "Stake" is a completely different word meaning a pointed post, or a bet or financial interest. They sound identical but are never interchangeable.

What is the difference between a "steak" and a "fillet"?

A "steak" is a thick slice of meat or fish, while a "fillet" is a boneless cut taken from along the animal or from one side of a fish. A fillet steak is a steak cut from the tenderloin, combining both ideas.

How does a fish "steak" differ from a fish "fillet"?

A fish "steak" is cut straight across the body, so it usually includes a section of the backbone. A fish "fillet" is cut lengthways along the body and is typically boneless.

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