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Noun: step  step
  1. Any manoeuvre made as part of progress toward a goal
    "the police took steps to reduce crime";
    - measure
  2. The distance covered by a step
    "he stepped off ten steps from the old tree and began to dig";
    - footstep, pace, stride
  3. The act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down
    "he walked with unsteady steps"
  4. Support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
    "he paused on the bottom step";
    - stair
  5. Relative position in a graded series
    "always a step behind"; "keep in step with the fashions";
    - gradation
  6. A short distance
    "it's only a step to the pharmacy";
    - stone's throw
  7. The sound of a step of someone walking
    "he heard steps on the porch";
    - footfall, footstep
  8. A musical interval of two semitones
    - tone, whole tone, whole step
  9. A mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
    - footprint, footmark, footstep
  10. A solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed
  11. A sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance
    "he taught them the waltz step";
    - dance step
Verb: step (stepped,stepping)  step
  1. Shift or move by taking a step
    "step back"
  2. Put down or press the foot, place the foot
    "step on the brake";
    - tread
  3. Cause (a computer) to execute a single command
  4. Treat badly
    "She is always stepping on others to get ahead";
    - mistreat, maltreat, abuse, ill-use, ill-treat
  5. (architecture) furnish with steps
    "The architect wants to step the terrace"
  6. Move with one's feet in a specific manner
    "step lively"
  7. Walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner
    "step over to the blackboard"
  8. Place (a ship's mast) in its step
  9. Measure (distances) by pacing
    "step off ten yards";
    - pace
  10. Move or proceed as if by steps into a new situation

Sounds like: steely, step

Derived forms: stepping, stepped, steps

See also: step out

Type of: block, do by, execute, furnish, go, handle, indefinite quantity, interval, lay, locomote, locomotion, maneuver [US], manoeuvre [Brit, Cdn], mark, measure, move, musical interval, place, pose, position, print, provide, put, quantify, quantitate, rank, render, run, set, small indefinite amount, small indefinite quantity, sound, supply, support, tactical maneuver [US], tactical manoeuvre [Brit, Cdn], travel, treat, walk

Part of: hoofing, staircase, stairway, step dancing

Encyclopedia: Step