noun
steppe
stehp
Steppe (noun) means a vast, largely treeless grassland plain, especially in Eastern Europe and Asia. Example: “Nomadic herders once roamed the steppe on horseback.”
noun
1
A vast, largely treeless grassland plain, especially in Eastern Europe and Asia.
"Nomadic herders once roamed the steppe on horseback."
How to use steppe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA huge, flat, grassy, mostly treeless landscape, typical of countries like Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "step" — the extra "pe" and different meaning (grassland vs. a stair or pace) are easy to mix up when typing quickly.
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Word forms
- Plural
- steppes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Nomadic herders once roamed the _____ on horseback.
Etymology
From Russian step, "flat grassy plain," borrowed into English via German or French.
Rhymes for steppe
See all rhymes for steppe →Frequently asked questions
What does “steppe” mean?
The word “steppe” means a vast, largely treeless grassland plain, especially in Eastern Europe and Asia. In plain terms, a huge, flat, grassy, mostly treeless landscape, typical of countries like Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
How do you pronounce “steppe”?
“Steppe” is pronounced stehp (/stɛp/ in IPA).
How do you use “steppe” in a sentence?
Here is “steppe” used in a sentence: “Nomadic herders once roamed the steppe on horseback.”
What part of speech is “steppe”?
“Steppe” is a noun.
Where does the word “steppe” come from?
The word “steppe” comes from French. From Russian step, "flat grassy plain," borrowed into English via German or French.
