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.
step aerobics.
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 byoff 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
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,
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.
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,
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.
step by step,
from one stage to the next in sequence.
gradually and steadily: We were shown the steelmaking process 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
stepless,adjectivesteplike,adjectivecoun·ter·step,noun,verb,coun·ter·stepped,coun·ter·step·ping.outstep,verb (used with object),out·stepped,out·step·ping.
a prefix denoting connection between members of a family by the remarriage of a parent and not by blood: stepbrother.
Origin of step-
Middle English; Old English stēop-; cognate with German stief-,Old Norse stjūp- step-; akin to Old English āstēpan to bereave, bestēpan to deprive (of children)
Tide, for example, has capitalized on marketing on Amazon’s Alexa Skills platform to remove a step from the purchasing process.
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Accordingly, Google is taking a number of steps to make itself the place consumers search for products — online or offline.
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They then took steps to get verified by a reliable source, who did verify it.
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That’s generally seen as the purview of Congress, which since its initial batch of aid in March and April hasn’t taken significant new steps to help struggling Americans.
The Big Corporate Rescue and the America That’s Too Small to Save|by Lydia DePillis, Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel|September 12, 2020|ProPublica
On the other hand, they’re taking a lot of steps domestically to shore up the industry.
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Plenty of conservative commentators have said he should step down from his leadership position.
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But Brooke was out of step with the New Left and its notion of radical chic.
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The train was already in motion as she tried to step inside, and her body was crushed beneath it.
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Out of step with his own party, the libertarian-leaning senator plays to his original base.
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Cammock's hand flew to his belt, he took a step forward, his face suffused with passion.
The Wild Geese|Stanley John Weyman
This early moment of his life proved to be its crisis, and the first step he took decided his after-progress.
Calamities and Quarrels of Authors|Isaac Disraeli
The words were so intense, so spontaneous and unexpected, that Loder took a step back.
The Masquerader|Katherine Cecil Thurston
One step; oh, that is a blessed message I bring to you—it is only one step.
The Master's Indwelling|Andrew Murray
For miles through the woods evidences of the terrible conflict meet one at every step.
The Citizen-Soldier|John Beatty
British Dictionary definitions for step (1 of 4)
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; gaithe received his prize with a proud step
a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance or part of a danceI have mastered the steps of the waltz
any of several paces or rhythmic movements in marching, dancing, etcthe goose step
(plural)a course followed by a person in walking or as walkingthey followed in their leader's steps
one of a sequence of separate consecutive stages in the progression towards some goalanother step towards socialism
a rank or grade in a series or scalehe 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 distanceit is only a step to my place
musica melodic interval of a secondSee whole tone, half-step
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 stepto cease to march in step
in step
marching, dancing, etc, in conformity with a specified pace or moving in unison with others
informalin agreement or harmony
keep stepto 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
informalnot in agreement; out of harmony
step by stepwith care and deliberation; gradually
take stepsto undertake measures (to do something) with a view to the attainment of some end
watch one's step
informalto conduct oneself with caution and good behaviour
to walk or move carefully
verbsteps, steppingorstepped
(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 distancestep this way, ladies
(intr)informal, mainlyUSto move, often in an attractive graceful manner, as in dancinghe can really step around
(intr; usually foll by on or upon)to place or press the foot; treadto step on the accelerator
(intr usually foll by into) to enter (into a situation) apparently with easeshe 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 ofthey 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
See also step down, step in, step on, step out, step up
Derived forms of step
steplike, adjective
Word 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 step (2 of 4)
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 step (3 of 4)
STEP
/ (stɛp) /
n acronym for
Special Temporary Employment Programme
British Dictionary definitions for step (4 of 4)
step-
combining form
indicating relationship through the previous marriage of a spouse or parent rather than by bloodstepson; stepfather