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Steer vs Harness - What's the difference?

steer | harness |

In lang=en terms the difference between steer and harness

is that steer is to direct a conversation while harness is to capture, control or put to use.

As nouns the difference between steer and harness

is that steer is the castrated male of cattle, especially one raised for beef production or steer can be (informal) a suggestion about a course of action or steer can be (obsolete) a helmsman; a pilot while harness is (countable) a restraint or support, especially one consisting of a loop or network of rope or straps.

As verbs the difference between steer and harness

is that steer is to castrate (a male calf) or steer can be to guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel) while harness is to place a harness on something; to tie up or restrain.

steer

English

Etymology 1

(etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • The castrated male of cattle, especially one raised for beef production.
  • * 1913 , (Willa Cather),
    • He counted the cattle over and over. It diverted him to speculate as to how much weight each of the steers would probably put on by spring.
    Synonyms
    * ox
    Hypernyms
    * cattle
    Coordinate terms
    * bull, calf, cow

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To castrate (a male calf).

    • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) stieran.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (informal) A suggestion about a course of action.
    • I tried to give you the steer , but I guess I didn't get it over. Everybody knew it but you.'' (Mark Hellinger, 1939, ''The Roaring Twenties )

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).
    • When planning the boat trip we had completely forgotten that we needed somebody to steer .
  • * Tennyson
    • No helmsman steers .
  • To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).
    • I find it very difficult to steer a skateboard.
    I steered my steps homeward.
  • To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm.
    • The boat steers easily.
  • * Milton
    • Where the wind / Veers oft, as oft [a ship] so steers , and shifts her sail.
  • To direct a group of animals.
  • To maneuver or manipulate a person or group into a place or course of action.
    • Hume believes that principles of association steer the imagination of artists.
  • To direct a conversation.
  • To conduct oneself; to take or pursue a course of action.
    • See also
    * steering wheel * torque steer

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A helmsman; a pilot.
    • (Chaucer)

    Anagrams

    * English ergative verbs

    harness

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • (countable) A restraint or support, especially one consisting of a loop or network of rope or straps.
  • (countable) A collection of wires or cables bundled and routed according to their function.
  • (dated) The complete dress, especially in a military sense, of a man or a horse; armour in general.
  • * 1606 William Shakespeare, Macbeth , act V, scene V
    • Ring the alarum-bell! Blow, wind! come, wrack!
    At least we'll die with harness on our back.
  • The part of a loom comprising the heddles, with their means of support and motion, by which the threads of the warp are alternately raised and depressed for the passage of the shuttle.

    • Derived terms

    * harnessed antelope * harnessed moth * test harness

    Verb

    (es)
  • To place a harness on something; to tie up or restrain.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
    • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.}}
  • To capture, control or put to use.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-16, author= John Vidal
    • , volume=189, issue=10, page=8, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Dams endanger ecology of Himalayas , passage=Most of the Himalayan rivers have been relatively untouched by dams near their sources. Now the two great Asian powers, India and China, are rushing to harness them as they cut through some of the world's deepest valleys.}}

    See also

    * (wikipedia "harness") *