a movement made by raising one foot and bringing it down in front of the other in walking or running
the space passed over in one step
a short distance
just a step away
the sound of a footstep
one's manner of walking; one's stride
had a spring in his step
in dancing, etc, a combination of foot movements constituting a unit or a repeated pattern
(in pl) one's course or way
To the Three Jolly Bargemen, therefore, I directed my steps — Dickens
A solicitor … kindly and carefully guided my steps, whenever the course of the narrative led me into the labyrinth of the law — Wilkie Collins
(also in pl) a flat supporting surface for the foot in ascending or descending, esp one in a series; a stair
a rung of a ladder
(in pl) a stepladder
a doorstep
in climbing, a foothold cut in an ice slope
a degree, grade, or rank in a scale
each stage in the progress of a process, etc
(also in pl) an action, proceeding, or measure
are taking steps to improve the situation
in a yacht, etc, a socket designed to receive an upright spar; esp a block for supporting the base of a mast
in physics, a sudden change in amount, e.g. of a voltage
chiefly NAmer in music, an interval of one note in a scale; = tone1
= step aerobics
(often + with) with each foot moving to the same time as the corresponding foot of others, or in time to music
(often + with) in harmony or agreement
(often + with) not in step; not in agreement or harmony
little by little; gradually
to behave or proceed with caution