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steppe /ste p/ (steppes ) N‑UNCOUNT Steppes are large areas of flat grassy land where there are no trees, especially the area that stretches from Eastern Europe across the south of the former Soviet Union to Siberia.

ste p|ping stone (stepping stones ) also stepping-stone

1 N‑COUNT You can describe a job or event as a stepping stone when it helps you to make progress, especially in your career. □ [+ to ] Many students now see university as a stepping stone to a good job.

2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Stepping stones are a line of large stones which you can walk on in order to cross a shallow stream or river.

step|sister /ste ps I stə ^r / (stepsisters ) also step-sister N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's stepsister is the daughter of their stepfather or stepmother.

step|son /ste psʌn/ (stepsons ) also step-son N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's stepson is a son born to their husband or wife during a previous relationship.

ste|reo /ste rioʊ/ (stereos )

1 ADJ Stereo is used to describe a sound system in which the sound is played through two speakers. Compare mono . □  …loudspeakers that give all-around stereo sound.

2 N‑COUNT A stereo is a cassette or CD player with two speakers.

ste|reo|type /ste riəta I p/ (stereotypes , stereotyping , stereotyped )

1 N‑COUNT A stereotype is a fixed general image or set of characteristics that a lot of people believe represent a particular type of person or thing. □  Many men feel their body shape doesn't live up to the stereotype of the ideal man.

2 VERB [usu passive] If someone is stereotyped as something, people form a fixed general idea or image of them, so that it is assumed that they will behave in a particular way. □ [be V -ed + as ] He was stereotyped by some as a rebel. □ [be V -ed] I get very worked up about the way women are stereotyped in a lot of mainstream films.

ste|reo|typi|cal /ste rioʊt I p I k ^ə l/ ADJ A stereotypical idea of a type of person or thing is a fixed general idea that a lot of people have about it, that may be false in many cases. □  Dara challenges our stereotypical ideas about gender and femininity.

ster|ile /ste ra I l, [AM ] -rəl/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is sterile is completely clean and free from germs. □  He always made sure that any cuts were protected by sterile dressings. ●  ste|ril|ity /stər I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the antiseptic sterility of the hospital.

2 ADJ A person or animal that is sterile is unable to have or produce babies. □  George was sterile. □  …a sterile male. ●  ste|ril|ity N‑UNCOUNT □  This disease causes sterility in both males and females.

3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A sterile situation is lacking in energy and new ideas. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  Too much time has been wasted in sterile debate. ●  ste|ril|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the sterility of Dorothea's life in industry.

steri|lize /ste r I la I z/ (sterilizes , sterilizing , sterilized ) in BRIT, also use sterilise 1 VERB If you sterilize a thing or a place, you make it completely clean and free from germs. □ [V n] Sulphur is also used to sterilize equipment. ●  steri|li|za|tion /ste r I la I ze I ʃ ^ə n, [AM ] -l I z-/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the pasteurization and sterilization of milk.

2 VERB [usu passive] If a person or an animal is sterilized , they have a medical operation that makes it impossible for them to have or produce babies. □ [be V -ed] My wife was sterilized after the birth of her fourth child. ●  steri|li|za|tion (sterilizations ) N‑VAR □  In some cases, a sterilization is performed through the vaginal wall.

ster|ling ◆◆◇ /stɜː ^r l I ŋ/