steppe
UK: stɛp | US: stɛp
n. A vast, treeless plain, especially one in southeastern Europe or Siberia.
n. (Ecology) A grassland biome characterized by low rainfall and absence of trees.
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The word "steppe" entered English in the late 17th century via German Steppe or French steppe, derived from Russian степь (stepʹ), meaning "flat grassy plain." The Russian term traces back to Turkic languages (e.g., Kazakh дала /dala/, though the exact Turkic root is debated). Unlike Indo-European compound words, "steppe" retains its monolithic structure as a loanword, reflecting its geographic and cultural origins in Central Asia.
The nomadic tribes roamed the steppe with their herds.
Steppe climates are harsh, with hot summers and freezing winters.
Wheat cultivation expanded into the Ukrainian steppe in the 19th century.
The steppe landscape stretched endlessly under the open sky.
Ecologists study the steppe’s unique biodiversity and fragile ecosystems.