steak
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a thick slice of beef that is usually grilled or fried.
n.a thick, high-quality cut of beef, typically taken from the hindquarters of the animal.
Simple“He ordered a medium-rare steak with a side of chips and salad.”
In context“The chef recommended the ribeye steak for its superior marbling and depth of flavour compared to the leaner cuts on the menu.”
Synonymsbeefsteakfillet - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a thick slice of fish or a large piece of a vegetable like cauliflower.
n.a cross-section slice of a large fish or a thick slab of a vegetable intended to be cooked as a meat substitute.
Simple“We grilled tuna steaks on the barbecue during our beach holiday.”
In context“The vegetarian menu featured a roasted cauliflower steak seasoned with smoked paprika and served over a bed of quinoa.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to cut meat or fish into thick slices or to cook it like a steak.
v.to prepare or portion meat, especially fish, by cutting it into thick cross-sections for grilling.
Simple“The fishmonger can steak the salmon for you if you prefer slices over a whole side.”
In context“After the catch was brought ashore, the crew began to steak the large tuna to prepare it for immediate transport to the local markets.”
UsageThe verb is transitive and usually refers to the preparation of large fish like salmon or swordfish.
From Middle English steike, from Old Norse steik (“roast; meat roasted on a stick”). The verb is either from the noun or from steikja (“to roast”). The modern pronunciation shows an irregular change of Early Modern English /ɛː/ to /eɪ/ in the standard language; contrast this with the development of other words such as speak and wreak.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.