steady (steadier comparative) (steadiest superlative) (steadies 3rd person present) (steadying present participle) (steadied past tense & past participle )
1 adj A steady situation continues or develops gradually without any interruptions and is not likely to change quickly.
Despite the steady progress of building work, the campaign against it is still going strong..., The improvement in standards has been steady and persistent, but has attracted little comment from educationalists..., A student doesn't have a steady income.
steadily adv ADV with v
Relax as much as possible and keep breathing steadily...
2 adj If an object is steady, it is firm and does not shake or move about., (Antonym: unsteady)
Get as close to the subject as you can and hold the camera steady...
3 adj If you look at someone or speak to them in a steady way, you look or speak in a calm, controlled way.
`Well, go on,' said Camilla, her voice fairly steady...
steadily adv ADV after v
He moved back a little and stared steadily at Elaine.
4 adj If you describe a person as steady, you mean that they are sensible and reliable.
usu v-link ADJ
He was firm and steady unlike other men she knew.
5 verb If you steady something or if it steadies, it stops shaking or moving about.
Two men were on the bridge-deck, steadying a ladder... V n
Lovelock eased back the throttles and the ship steadied. V
6 verb If you steadyyourself, you control your voice or expression, so that people will think that you are calm and not nervous.
(=compose)
Somehow she steadied herself and murmured, `Have you got a cigarette?'... V pron-refl
She breathed in to steady her voice. V n
7 exclam You say `steady on' to someone to tell them to calm down or to be careful about what they are saying. `What if there's another murder?'—`Steady on!'...
rock steady , rock-steady
Something that is rock steady is very firm and does not shake or move about. adj
He reached for a cigarette and lit it, fingers rock steady.
