different between rudder vs steer

English

Etymology

From Middle English rodder, rother, ruder, from Old English r?þor (“oar, rudder”), from Proto-West Germanic *r?þr, from Proto-Germanic *r?þr? (“oar, rudder”) (compare Dutch and West Frisian roer, German Ruder), from Proto-Germanic *r?an?, from Proto-Indo-European *h?reh?- (“to row”) + Proto-Germanic *-þr?, *-þraz, instrumental suffix. Akin to Old English r?wan (“to row”). More at r?wan, -þor.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???d?(?)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /???d?/
• Rhymes: -?d?(r)

Noun

rudder (plural rudders)

1. (nautical) An underwater vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a joystick or an autopilot).
2. (aeronautics) A control surface on the vertical stabilizer of a fixed-wing aircraft or an autogyro. On some craft, the entire vertical stabilizer comprises the rudder. The rudder is controlled by foot-operated control pedals.
3. A riddle or sieve.
4. (figuratively) That which resembles a rudder as a guide or governor; that which guides or governs the course.
   • Hudibras

     For rhyme the rudder is of verses.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• tiller

Middle English

Noun

rudder

1. Alternative form of rother (“bovine”)

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /st??(?)/, enPR: st??(r)
• Rhymes: -??(r)

Etymology 1

From Middle English steeren, steren, stiren, sturen, steoren, from Old English st?oran, st?eran, st?ran (“to steer; guide a vessel”), from Proto-West Germanic *stiurijan (“to steer”), from Proto-Germanic *stiurijan? (“to steer”).

The noun is from Middle English steere, stere, steor, from Old English st?or, st?r (“steering; guidance; direction”). Compare Dutch stuur, German Steuer, Icelandic stýri.

Verb

steer (third-person singular simple present steers, present participle steering, simple past and past participle steered)

1. (intransitive) To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).

   The boat steered towards the iceberg.

   I steered homeward.

2. (transitive) To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).

   I find it very difficult to steer a skateboard.

   When planning the boat trip, we had completely forgotten that we needed somebody to steer.
3. (intransitive) To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm.

   The boat steers easily.
4. (transitive) To direct a group of animals.
5. (transitive) To maneuver or manipulate a person or group into a place or course of action.

   Hume believes that principles of association steer the imagination of artists.

6. (transitive) To direct a conversation.
7. To conduct oneself; to take or pursue a course of action.

Translations

See also

• steering wheel
• torque steer

Noun

steer (plural steers)

1. (informal) A suggestion about a course of action.
2. (obsolete) A helmsman; a pilot.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)

Derived terms

• steerless

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English stere, steer, ster, steor, from Old English st?or (“a young bull or cow; steer”), from Proto-Germanic *steuraz (“bull; steer”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)táwros (“wild bull; aurochs”). Cognate with Dutch stier, German Stier, Icelandic stjór, Latin taurus (“bull”), Greek ?????? (távros). Doublet of tur.

Noun

steer (plural steers)

2. The castrated male of cattle, especially one raised for beef production.
   • 1913, Willa Cather, O Pioneers!, chapter 2

     He counted the cattle over and over. It diverted him to speculate as to how much weight each of the steers would probably put on by spring.

Synonyms

• ox

Hypernyms

• cattle

Coordinate terms

• bull, calf, cow

Translations

Verb

steer (third-person singular simple present steers, present participle steering, simple past and past participle steered)

1. (transitive) To castrate (a male calf).

Translations

Anagrams

• Ester, Reset, ester, estre, re-est., reest, reset, retes, seter, stere, teers, teres, terse, trees

Scots

Etymology

From Old English styrian

Noun

steer

1. stir

Anagrams

• Ester, Reset, ester, estre, re-est., reest, reset, retes, seter, stere, terse, trees