steppe

noun

1
: one of the vast usually level and treeless tracts in southeastern Europe or Asia
2
: arid land with xerophilous vegetation found usually in regions of extreme temperature range and loess soil

Examples of steppe in a Sentence

nomads have long grazed yaks on the steppes of Mongolia
Recent Examples on the Web Under the leadership of Genghis Khan (also known as Chinggis Khan), the Mongol Empire was expanding on almost every frontier—into China, the Middle East and the Central Asian steppe country. Nicholas Morton, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2023 But Cambridge scientists found that increases in brain size specifically were more likely due to a decreased presence of vegetation (such as the Eurasian steppe) in the area. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 13 July 2023 The Black Sea gave way to the Caspian and, beyond, to a land of mountain, desert and steppe. Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 Archaeological evidence shows that farming had begun moving out of Anatolia about 3,000 years earlier than the spread of pastoralists out of the steppe. Kurt Kleiner, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024 On the Eurasian steppe, where domestic horses likely arose, their bones mingle with human burials all the way back to that era. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024 How still the steppe, turned up to April. Salutations, black earth. Merve Emre, The New York Review of Books, 13 Feb. 2024 The cultural significance of the male characters who is a lone wolf is also significant: in Turkic culture, the nomadic people of the Kazakh steppe believe their ancestors were raised by wolves. Nick Holdsworth, Variety, 24 Jan. 2024 Loro Piana is known for its cashmere — combed from longhaired goats in the steppes of Mongolia and northern China — and this season’s fabrics include Khanghai, a cashmere wool blend that comes in 10 natural tones, including a smoky tobacco and a soft ocean blue. Gisela Williams Emilia Petrarca John Wogan Jameson Montgomery Caitie Kelly Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steppe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Russian step'

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of steppe was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near steppe

Cite this Entry

“Steppe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steppe. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

steppe

noun
: land in regions of wide temperature range (as in southeastern Europe and parts of Asia) that is dry, usually rather level, and covered with grass

More from Merriam-Webster on steppe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!