“steer” – English explanatory dictionary

noun a castrated bull over one year old (informal.) ■ verb 1. to make a vehicle go in a particular direction ○ She steered the car into a ditch. ○ The pilot steered the ship into harbour. 2. □ to steer clear of to avoid something ○ I steer clear of greasy food.

n. [OE. steer, AS. steór; akin to D. & G. stier a bull, OHG. stior, Icel. stjorr, jorr, Sw. tjur, Dan. tyr, Goth. stiur, Russ. tur’, Pol. tur, Ir. & Gael. tarbh, W. tarw, L. taurus, Gr. , Skr. sthra strong, stout, AS. stor large, Icel. storr, OHG. stri, stiuri. rad.168. Cf. Stirk, Taurine, a.] A young male of the ox kind; especially, a common ox; a castrated taurine male from two to four years old. See the Note under Ox.

v. t. To castrate; — said of male calves.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steered p. pr. & vb. n. Steering.] [OE. steeren, steren, AS. stieran, stran, steóran; akin to OFries. stiora, stiura, D. sturen, OD. stieren, G. steuren, OHG. stiuren to direct, support, G. steuer contribution, tax, Icel. stra to steer, govern,Sw. styra, Dan. styre, Goth. stiurjan to establish, AS. steór a rudder, a helm, and probably to Icel. staurr a pale, stake, Gr. , and perhaps ultimately to E. stand. rad.168. Cf. Starboard, Stern, n.] To direct the course of; to guide; to govern; — applied especially to a vessel in the water. “That with a staff his feeble steps did steer.” Spenser.

v. i. 1. To direct a vessel in its course; to direct one’s course. ´No helmsman steers.´ Tennyson.
2. To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm; as the boat steers easily. “Where the wind
Veers oft, as oft [a ship] so steers, and shifts her sail.” Milton.
3. To conduct one’s self; to take or pursue a course of action.