steep

steep, abrupt, precipitous, sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular.

steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

soak, saturate, drench, steep, impregnate mean to permeate or be permeated with a liquid.

soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed.

impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.