step

/stˈɛp/ · 1 syllable

Meaning

noun

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
“the situation called for strong measures”
the distance covered by a step
“he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig”
the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down
“he walked with unsteady steps”
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
“he paused on the bottom step”
relative position in a graded series
“always a step behind”
a short distance
“it's only a step to the drugstore”
the sound of a step of someone walking
“he heard footsteps on the porch”
a musical interval of two semitones
a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
“the police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window”
a solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed
a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance
“he taught them the waltz step”

verb

shift or move by taking a step
“step back”
put down or press the foot, place the foot
“For fools rush in where angels fear to tread”
cause (a computer) to execute a single command
treat badly
“This boss abuses his workers”
furnish with steps
“The architect wants to step the terrace”
move with one's feet in a specific manner
“step lively”
walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner
“step over to the blackboard”
place (a ship's mast) in its step
measure (distances) by pacing
“step off ten yards”
move or proceed as if by steps into a new situation
“She stepped into a life of luxury”

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