steak: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral. Common in both casual and formal culinary contexts.
Quick answer
What does “steak” mean?
A thick slice of meat (especially beef) or fish, typically cooked by grilling, frying, or broiling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thick slice of meat (especially beef) or fish, typically cooked by grilling, frying, or broiling.
Can refer to the cut of meat itself, or be used figuratively in idioms to denote something valuable or at stake. Also appears in compound nouns for other specific cuts or dishes (e.g., 'T-bone steak', 'steak pie').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling identical. Minor differences in preferred cuts (e.g., 'rump steak' is common in UK, 'sirloin steak' very common in both). 'Steak' is used in the UK for certain minced meat dishes ('minced steak', 'steak pie') where US might specify 'ground beef' or 'beef pie'.
Connotations
Strongly associated with high-quality dining, celebration, or a treat in both cultures. In the US, also heavily tied to 'steakhouse' culture.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties. The word is a culinary staple.
Grammar
How to Use “steak” in a Sentence
have/eat/order/cook a steaka steak from (the butcher)a steak with (chips/fries)steak (done) rare/medium/well-doneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “steak” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Very rare as verb) Informally, 'to steak' can mean to cook or prepare as steak.
American English
- (Very rare as verb) Same as British.
adjective
British English
- steak pie
- steak knife
- steak restaurant
American English
- steak sauce
- steak house
- steak fries
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in hospitality/food industry contexts (e.g., 'steak supplier', 'steak restaurant margins').
Academic
Rare, except in historical, agricultural, or nutritional studies.
Everyday
Very high frequency, especially in social/dining contexts.
Technical
Used in butchery, culinary arts, and food science to specify cuts and grades.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “steak”
- Mispronouncing as /stiːk/ (like 'steek').
- Using uncountable form incorrectly (e.g., 'I like steak' is correct; 'I like a steak' is correct when referring to a single serving).
- Confusing spelling with 'stake' (a wooden post or wager).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common for beef, it can be used for other meats and fish (e.g., 'tuna steak', 'venison steak'), but the core default meaning is beef.
'Beef' is the general term for the meat from a cow. A 'steak' is a specific, usually thick, cut of that beef (or other meat), prepared in a particular way.
It rhymes with 'cake', 'bake', and 'make'. The 'ea' is pronounced /eɪ/, not /iː/. So, /steɪk/.
It comes from Old Norse 'steik', related to cooking on a stick. The 'ea' digraph represents the /eɪ/ sound due to historical Great Vowel Shift changes, similar to 'break' and 'great'.
A thick slice of meat (especially beef) or fish, typically cooked by grilling, frying, or broiling.
Steak is usually neutral. common in both casual and formal culinary contexts. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “steak through the heart”
- “bet the farm/ranch on something (conceptually related to 'having a lot at steak' – a pun on 'stake')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I STAY hungry for a good STEAK.' Both words share the 'stay' sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
A STEAK IS A VALUABLE COMMODITY (e.g., 'He's betting the whole company on this project – it's a real steak dinner').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'steak' LEAST likely to be used?