- steady
- stead|y1 W3 [ˈstedi] adj▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(continuous)¦2¦(not moving)¦3 steady job/work/income4¦(voice/look)¦5¦(person)¦6 steady boyfriend/girlfriend7 steady relationship▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: stead]1.) ¦(CONTINUOUS)¦continuing or developing gradually or without stopping, and not likely to change▪ Paul is making steady progress.▪ a steady rainhold/remain steady▪ Employment is holding steady at 96%.steady stream/flow/trickle etc▪ a steady stream of traffic2.) ¦(NOT MOVING)¦firmly held in a particular position and not moving or shaking→↑stablehold/keep sth steady▪ Keep the camera steady while you take a picture.▪ It takes a steady hand to perform surgery.3.) steady job/work/incomea job or work that will definitely continue over a long period of time▪ It's hard to find a steady, well-paying job.4.) ¦(VOICE/LOOK)¦if someone's voice is steady, or they look at you in a steady way, they seem calm and do not stop speaking or looking at you▪ There were tears in her eyes, but her voice was steady.▪ He could not meet Connor's steady gaze.5.) ¦(PERSON)¦someone who is steady is sensible and you can depend on them▪ a steady worker6.) steady boyfriend/girlfriendsomeone that you have been having a romantic relationship with for a long time7.) steady relationshipa serious and strong relationship that continues for a long time>steadily adv▪ The company's exports have grown steadily .▪ debt was increasingly steadily>steadiness n [U]steady 2steady2 v past tense and past participle steadied present participle steadying third person singular steadies1.) [I and T]to hold someone or something so they become more balanced or controlled, or to become more balanced or controlledsteady yourself▪ He reached the chair and steadied himself.▪ The plane steadied, and the passengers relaxed.2.)to stop increasing or decreasing and remain about the same= ↑stabilize▪ The dollar has steadied after early losses on the money markets.3.) [I and T]to become calmer, or to make someone do this▪ Tamar took a deep breath to steady her nerves .▪ Jess is a steadying influence on the rest of the team.steady 3steady3 [i]advgo steady (with sb)to have a long regular romantic relationship with someonesteady 4steady4 plural steadiesnAmE old-fashioned informal a ↑boyfriend or ↑girlfriend that someone has been having a romantic relationship withsteady 5steady5 interjection1.) used when you want to tell someone to be careful or not to cause an accident▪ Steady! You nearly knocked me over.2.) Steady on!BrE informal used when you think that what someone is saying or doing is too extreme▪ Steady on! That bottle's got to last all night.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.