step

noun

1》 an act or movement of putting one leg in front of the other in walking or running.

    ↘the distance covered by such a movement.

    ↘a short and easily walked distance.

2》 one of the sequences of movement of the feet which make up a dance.

3》 a flat surface, especially one in a series, on which to place one's foot when moving from one level to another.

    ↘a doorstep.

    ↘a rung of a ladder.

    ↘(steps or a pair of steps) Brit. a stepladder.

    ↘step aerobics.

    ↘Climbing a foothold cut in a slope of ice.

4》 a measure or action, especially one of a series taken in order to deal with or achieve a particular thing.

5》 a position or grade in a scale or hierarchy.

6》 Music, N. Amer. an interval in a scale; a tone (whole step) or semitone (half step).

7》 Physics an abrupt change in the value of a quantity, especially voltage.

8》 a block fixed to a boat's keel in order to take the base of a mast or other fitting.

verb (steps, stepping, stepped)

1》 lift and set down one's foot or one foot after the other in order to walk somewhere or move to a new position.

2》 Nautical set up (a mast) in its step.

Phrases

in (or out of) step

1》 walking, marching, or dancing in the same (or a different) rhythm and pace as others.

2》 conforming (or not conforming) to what others are doing or thinking.

3》 Physics (of two or more oscillations or other cyclic phenomena) having (or not having) the same frequency and always in the same phase.

follow (or tread) in someone's steps do as someone else did, especially in making a journey or following a career.

mind (or watch) one's step walk or act carefully.

step into someone's shoes take control of a task or job from another person.

step on it informal go faster.

step out of line behave inappropriately or disobediently.

Phrasal verbs

step aside another way of saying step down.

step back mentally withdraw from a situation in order to consider it objectively.

step down withdraw or resign from a position or office.

step something down decrease voltage by using a transformer.

step forward offer one's help or services.

step in

1》 become involved in a difficult situation, especially in order to help.

2》 act as a substitute for someone.

step out

1》 leave a room or building, typically for a short time.

2》 N. Amer. informal have a romantic or sexual relationship with someone.

3》 walk with long or vigorous steps.

step something up increase the amount, speed, or intensity of something.

↘increase voltage using a transformer.

Derivatives

stepped adjective

stepwise adjective

Origin

OE stæpe, stepe (n.), stæppan, steppan (v.), of Gmc origin.