unsteady

unsteady — [unsted′ē] adj. not steady; specif., a) not firm or stable; shaky b) changeable; inconstant; wavering c) erratic in habits, purpose, or behavior vt. unsteadied, unsteadying to make unsteady unsteadily adv. unsteadiness n …   English World dictionary

unsteady — index broken (interrupted), dangerous, disorderly, inconsistent, infrequent, insecure, irresolute …   Law dictionary

unsteady — 1590s, from UN (Cf. un ) (1) not + STEADY (Cf. steady) (adj.). Cf. O.Fris. unstadich, Ger. unstätig, M.Du. onstadich …   Etymology dictionary

unsteady — ► ADJECTIVE (unsteadier, unsteadiest) 1) liable to fall or shake; not firm. 2) not uniform or regular. DERIVATIVES unsteadily adverb unsteadiness noun …   English terms dictionary

unsteady — un|stead|y [ʌnˈstedi] adj 1.) shaking or moving in a way you cannot control ▪ He poured the coffee with a very unsteady hand. ▪ a baby s first unsteady steps ▪ She was quite unsteady on her feet (=she might fall over) . 2.) showing that you are… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

unsteady — [[t]ʌnste̱di[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED If you are unsteady, you have difficulty doing something, for example walking, because you cannot completely control your legs or your body. The boy was very unsteady and had staggered around when he got up... He… …   English dictionary

unsteady — unsteadily, adv. unsteadiness, n. /un sted ee/, adj., v., unsteadied, unsteadying. adj. 1. not steady or firm; unstable; shaky: an unsteady hand. 2. fluctuating or wavering: an unsteady flame; unsteady prices. 3. irregular or uneven: an unsteady… …   Universalium

unsteady — un|stead|y [ ʌn stedi ] adjective 1. ) not regular, calm, or normal: an unsteady voice unsteady breathing 2. ) too weak or sick to walk well: She s still unsteady on her feet. 3. ) not reliable …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

unsteady — UK [ʌnˈstedɪ] / US adjective 1) not regular, calm, or normal an unsteady voice unsteady breathing 2) too weak or ill to walk well She s still a bit unsteady on her feet. 3) not reliable …   English dictionary

unsteady — I. transitive verb Date: 1532 to make unsteady II. adjective Date: 1551 not steady: as a. not firm or solid ; not fixed in position ; unstable b. marked by change or fluctuation ; changeable …   New Collegiate Dictionary

unsteady — un•stead•y [[t]ʌnˈstɛd i[/t]] adj. v. stead•ied, stead•y•ing 1) not steady or firm; unstable; shaky 2) fluctuating or wavering: an unsteady flame[/ex] 3) irregular or uneven 4) to make unsteady • Etymology: 1525–35 un•stead′i•ly, adv.… …   From formal English to slang