step

Pronunciation: /stɛp/

Translate step | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

Definition of step

noun

1an act or movement of putting one leg in front of the other in walking or running:Ron took a step back she turned and retraced her steps
the distance covered by a step:Richard came a couple of steps nearer
[usually in singular] a person’s particular way of walking:she left the room with a springy step
each of the sequences of movement of the feet which make up a dance.
a short or easily walked distance:the market is only a short step from the lake

2a flat surface, especially one in a series, on which to place one’s foot when moving from one level to another:the bottom step of the staircase a flight of marble steps
a doorstep:there was a pint of milk on the step
a rung of a ladder.
(steps or a pair of steps) British a stepladder: the steps are in the outhouse
[mass noun] step aerobics: [as modifier]:a step class
Climbing a foothold cut in a slope of ice.

3a measure or action, especially one of a series taken in order to deal with or achieve a particular thing:the government must take steps to discourage age discrimination a major step forward in the fight against terrorism
a stage in a gradual process:sales are up, which is a step in the right direction
a particular position or grade on an ascending or hierarchical scale:the first step on the managerial ladder

4 Music, North American an interval in a scale; a tone (whole step) or semitone (half step).

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

6a block fixed to a boat’s keel in order to take the base of a mast or other fitting.

verb (steps, stepping, stepped)

1 [no object, with adverbial] lift and set down one’s foot or one foot after the other in order to walk somewhere or move to a new position:Claudia tried to step back I accidentally stepped on his foot
[as imperative] used as a polite or deferential way of asking someone to walk a short distance for a particular purpose:please step this way
(step it) dated perform a dance:they stepped it down the room between the lines of dancers
take a particular course of action:he stepped out of retirement to answer an SOS call from his old club

2 [with object] Nautical set up (a mast) in its step.

Phrases

break step: stop walking or marching in step with others: they walked past me without even breaking step
fall into step: change the way one is walking so that one is walking in step with another person: Paul fell into step beside Bill
in (or out of) step: putting (or not putting) one’s feet forward alternately in the same rhythm as the people one is walking, marching, or dancing with.; conforming (or not conforming) to what others are doing or thinking:the party is clearly out of step with voters; Physics (of two or more oscillations or other cyclic phenomena) having (or not having) the same frequency and always in the same phase: many oscillations trace out the same pattern but necessarily in step
follow (or tread) in someone's steps: do as someone else did, especially in making a journey or following a career: many of these youngsters hoped to follow in the steps of Gascoigne
keep step: remain walking, marching, or dancing in step: they marched up and down the parade ground, keeping step with the regimental band
mind (or watch) one's step: used as a warning to someone to walk or act carefully: you’d better watch your step with him—he’s not as innocent as he looks mind your step—the path’s a bit steep
one step ahead: managing to avoid competition or danger from someone or something:I try to keep one step ahead of the rest of the staff
step by step: so as to progress gradually and carefully from one stage to the next:I’ll explain it to you step by step [as modifier]:a step-by-step guide
step into the breach: see breach.
step into someone's shoes: take control of a task or job from another person: he failed to notice the ambitious young men waiting to step into his shoes
step on it (or step on the gas): informal go faster, typically in a motor vehicle: if we don’t step on it, the pub will have closed for the afternoon
step on someone's toes: see tread on someone's toes at tread.
step out of line: behave inappropriately or disobediently: if you step out of line once more you’re fired!
step up to the plate: North American take action in response to an opportunity or crisis.

Phrasal Verbs

step aside: another way of saying .
step back: mentally withdraw from a situation in order to consider it objectively: I have had to step back and take an honest look at my way of working
step down: withdraw or resign from an important position or office:he stepped down as party leader
step something down: decrease voltage by using a transformer.
step forward: offer one’s help or services:a company has stepped forward to sponsor the team
step in: become involved in a difficult situation, especially in order to help: palace officials asked the government to step in; act as a substitute for someone:Lucy stepped in at very short notice to take Joan’s place
step out
step out on: US informal be sexually unfaithful to: your mama says Joe is stepping out on you with that strumpet Viola Stokes
step something up

Derivatives

step-like

Origin:

Old English stæpe, stepe (noun), stæppan, steppan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch steppen and German stapfen

step in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of step in the US English dictionary

Subscriber login

Library card login

Other

step

noun

verb (steps, stepping, stepped)

Phrases

break step

fall into step

in (or out of) step

follow (or tread) in someone's steps

keep step

mind (or watch) one's step

one step ahead

step by step

step into the breach

step into someone's shoes

step on it (or step on the gas)

step on someone's toes

step out of line

step up to the plate

Phrasal Verbs

step aside

step back

step down

step something down

step forward

step in

step out

step out on

step something up

Derivatives

step-like

Origin:

step in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for step

Shop for an Oxford dictionary

Word of the day

monocular