step
[ step ]
/ stɛp /
noun
a movement made by lifting the foot and setting it down again in a new position, accompanied by a shifting of the weight of the body in the direction of the new position, as in walking, running, or dancing.
such a movement followed by a movement of equal distance of the other foot: The soldier took one step forward and stood at attention.
the space passed over or the distance measured by one such movement of the foot.
the sound made by the foot in making such a movement.
a mark or impression made by the foot on the ground; footprint.
the manner of walking; gait; stride.
pace in marching: double-quick step.
a pace uniform with that of another or others, or in time with music.
steps,
movements or course in walking or running: to retrace one's steps.
a move, act, or proceeding, as toward some end or in the general course of some action; stage, measure, or period: the five steps to success.
rank, degree, or grade, as on a vertical scale.
a support for the foot in ascending or descending: a step of a ladder; a stair of 14 steps.
a very short distance: She was never more than a step away from her children.
a repeated pattern or unit of movement in a dance formed by a combination of foot and body motions.
Music.
- a degree of the staff or of the scale.
- the interval between two adjacent scale degrees; second.Compare semitone, whole step.
steps, British.
a stepladder.
an offset part of anything.
Nautical.
a socket, frame, or platform for supporting the lower end of a mast.
Mining.
a flat-topped ledge on the face of a quarry or a mine working.
verb (used without object), stepped, step·ping.
to move, go, etc., by lifting the foot and setting it down again in a new position, or by using the feet alternately in this manner: to step forward.
to walk, or go on foot, especially for a few strides or a short distance: Step over to the bar.
to move with measured steps, as in a dance.
to go briskly or fast, as a horse.
to obtain, find, win, come upon, etc., something easily and naturally, as if by a mere step of the foot: to step into a good business opportunity.
to put the foot down; tread by intention or accident: to step on a cat's tail.
to press with the foot, as on a lever, spring, or the like, in order to operate some mechanism.
verb (used with object), stepped, step·ping.
to take (a step, pace, stride, etc.).
to go through or perform the steps of (a dance).
to move or set (the foot) in taking a step.
to measure (a distance, ground, etc.) by steps (sometimes followed by off or out).
to make or arrange in the manner of a series of steps.
Nautical.
to fix (a mast) in its step.
Verb Phrases
step down,
- to lower or decrease by degrees.
- to relinquish one's authority or control; resign: Although he was past retirement age, he refused to step down and let his son take over the business.
step in,
to become involved; intervene, as in a quarrel or fight: The brawl was well under way by the time the police stepped in.
step out,
- to leave a place, especially for a brief period of time.
- to walk or march at a more rapid pace.
- to go out to a social gathering or on a date: We're stepping out tonight.
step up,
- to raise or increase by degrees: to step up production.
- to be promoted; advance.
- to make progress; improve.
Idioms for step
- moving in time to a rhythm or with the corresponding step of others.
- in harmony or conformity with: They are not in step with the times.
break step,
to interrupt or cease walking or marching in step: The marching units were allowed to break step after they had passed the reviewing stand.
in step,
- not in time to a rhythm or corresponding to the step of others.
- not in harmony or conformity with: They are out of step with the others in their group.
- from one stage to the next in sequence.
- gradually and steadily: We were shown the steelmaking process step by step.
keep step,
to keep pace; stay in step: The construction of classrooms and the training of teachers have not kept step with population growth.
out of step,
step by step,
step on it, Informal.
to hasten one's activity or steps; hurry up: If we don't step on it, we'll miss the show.
take steps,
to set about putting something into operation; begin to act: I will take steps to see that your application is processed.
watch one's step,
to proceed with caution; behave prudently: If she doesn't watch her step, she will be fired from her job.
Origin of step
before 900; (v.) Middle English
steppen, Old English
steppan; cognate with Old High German
stepfen; akin to
stamp; (noun) Middle English; Old English
stepe
OTHER WORDS FROM step
step·less, adjective
step·like, adjective
coun·ter·step, noun, verb, coun·ter·stepped, coun·ter·step·ping.
out·step, verb (used with object), out·stepped, out·step·ping.
un·der·step, noun
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH step
step steppeWords nearby step
Example sentences from the Web for stepping
Peters again complies, stepping aside and raising both hands.
But in the next instant, Peters is stepping back to the table and snatching up the knife.
Good old Sir Bob Geldof stepping into the breach again to raise money for crisis-hit Africa?
Her wealthy family imposed its own monetary and social punishment for stepping outside the sorority.
Stepford Sororities: The Pressures of USC’s Greek Life |Maya Richard Craven |November 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
By stepping down, the embattled McCaffery preempted an ethics investigation that could have cost him his state pension.
"They're stepping on my toes," cried barefooted Peter Grant.
Captain Horace |Sophie MayBut Ransom was no fool and, stepping back out of the way of temptation, he allowed him to escape without further parley.
The Chief Legatee |Anna Katharine Green“Oh, I do just hope so,” said little Helen Adams, stepping on board her train.
Betty Wales Senior |Margaret Warde“I will,” said the fisherman, stepping forward, and now recognized as a previous acquaintance.
The Knights of the White Shield |Edward A. RandFor the first time I dared to cease rowing, and stepping the mast, hoisted my sail.
In the Eastern Seas |W.H.G. Kingston
British Dictionary definitions for stepping (1 of 3)
step
/ (stɛp) /
noun
the act of motion brought about by raising the foot and setting it down again in coordination with the transference of the weight of the body
the distance or space covered by such a motion
the sound made by such a movement
the impression made by such movement of the foot; footprint
the manner of walking or moving the feet; gait
he received his prize with a proud step
a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance or part of a dance
I have mastered the steps of the waltz
any of several paces or rhythmic movements in marching, dancing, etc
the goose step
(plural)
a course followed by a person in walking or as walking
they followed in their leader's steps
one of a sequence of separate consecutive stages in the progression towards some goal
another step towards socialism
a rank or grade in a series or scale
he was always a step behind
an object or device that offers support for the foot when ascending or descending
(plural)
a flight of stairs, esp out of doors
(plural) another name for stepladder
a very short easily walked distance
it is only a step to my place
an offset or change in the level of a surface similar to the step of a stair
a strong block or frame bolted onto the keel of a vessel and fitted to receive the base of a mast
a ledge cut in mining or quarrying excavations
break step
to cease to march in step
in step
- marching, dancing, etc, in conformity with a specified pace or moving in unison with others
- informal in agreement or harmony
keep step
to remain walking, marching, dancing, etc, in unison or in a specified rhythm
out of step
- not moving in conformity with a specified pace or in accordance with others
- informal not in agreement; out of harmony
step by step
with care and deliberation; gradually
take steps
to undertake measures (to do something) with a view to the attainment of some end
watch one's step
- informal to conduct oneself with caution and good behaviour
- to walk or move carefully
verb steps, stepping or stepped
(intr)
to move by raising the foot and then setting it down in a different position, transferring the weight of the body to this foot and repeating the process with the other foot
(intr; often foll by in, out, etc)
to move or go on foot, esp for a short distance
step this way, ladies
(intr) informal, mainly US
to move, often in an attractive graceful manner, as in dancing
he can really step around
(intr; usually foll by on or upon)
to place or press the foot; tread
to step on the accelerator
(intr usually foll by into)
to enter (into a situation) apparently with ease
she stepped into a life of luxury
(tr)
to walk or take (a number of paces, etc)
to step ten paces
(tr)
to perform the steps of
they step the tango well
(tr)
to set or place (the foot)
(tr; usually foll by off or out)
to measure (some distance of ground) by stepping
(tr)
to arrange in or supply with a series of steps so as to avoid coincidence or symmetry
(tr)
to raise (a mast) and fit it into its step
Derived forms of step
steplike, adjectiveWord Origin for step
Old English
stepe, stæpe; related to Old Frisian
stap, stepe, Old High German
stapfo (German
Stapfe footprint), Old Norse
stapi high rock
British Dictionary definitions for stepping (2 of 3)
Step
/ (stɛp) /
noun
- a set of aerobic exercises designed to improve the cardiovascular system, which consists of stepping on and off a special box of adjustable height
- (as modifier)Step aerobics
British Dictionary definitions for stepping (3 of 3)
STEP
/ (stɛp) /
n acronym for
Special Temporary Employment Programme
Idioms and Phrases with stepping
step
In addition to the idioms beginning with step
- step aside
- step by step
- step down
- step in
- step in the right direction, a
- step into
- step into someone's shoes
- step on it
- step on someone's toes
- step out
- step out of line
- step up
also see:
- false step
- in step
- (step) out of line
- take steps
- watch one's step