steer¹ / sti(ə)r/ • v. [tr.] (of a person) guide or control the movement of (a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft), for example by turning a wheel or operating a rudder: he steered the boat slowly toward the busy quay | [intr.] he let Lily steer. ∎  [intr.] (of a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft) be guided in a specified direction in such a way: the ship steered into port. ∎  [tr.] follow (a course) in a specified direction: the fishermen were steering a direct course for Kodiak| [intr.] fig. try to steer away from foods based on sugar. ∎  [tr.] guide the movement or course of (someone or something): he had steered her to a chair| fig. he made an attempt to steer the conversation back to Heather. • n. inf. a piece of advice or information concerning the development of a situation: the need for the school to be given a clear steer as to its future direction.PHRASES: steer clear of take care to avoid or keep away from: his program steers clear of prickly local issues.steer a middle coursesee middle.DERIVATIVES: steer·a·ble / ˈsti(ə)rəbəl/ adj.steer² • n. a male domestic bovine animal that has been castrated and is raised for beef.

steer2 guide the course OF. OE. stīeran = MLG. stüren, (M)Du. stūren, stieren, OHG. stiuren (G. steuern), ON. stýra, Goth. stiurjan settle :- Gmc. *steurjan, f. *steurō, whence OE. stēor steering, etc.
So steersman OE. stēoresman, f. g. of stēor (see -S), beside stēorman.

steer1 young (esp. castrated) OX. OE. stēor = MLG. stēr, OHG. stior (Du., G. stier), ON. stjórr, Goth. stiur :- Gmc. *steuraz.

steer Bull castrated when very young; if castrated after reaching maturity, it is known as a stag.