A steak is a thick slice of meat, usually beef, that's meant to be cooked and eaten as a main dish. When you order steak at a restaurant, you're getting a substantial piece of meat that's been cut across the muscle, often from parts of the cow like the ribeye, sirloin, or filet mignon. People cook steaks by grilling, pan-frying, or broiling them, and they're often served with sides like baked potatoes or vegetables.

The word also appears in other contexts. You might hear about tuna steak or salmon steak, which are thick cuts of fish prepared similarly to beef steak. A cube steak is a tougher cut of beef that's been pounded thin to make it more tender. There's even something called Salisbury steak, which isn't actually a steak at all, but a seasoned ground beef patty that resembles one.

Steak is considered a special or celebratory meal in many cultures. A family might go out for steaks to mark a birthday or achievement. The quality and preparation of steak matters a lot to people who care about cooking: some prefer their steak rare (barely cooked inside), while others like it well-done (cooked all the way through).