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step

Syllabification: (step)
Pronunciation: /step/

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
  • one of the sequences of movement of the feet that make up a dance.
  • a short or easily walked distance:the market is only a short step from the end of 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.
  • Climbing a foothold cut in a slope of ice.
  • a block, typically fixed to the vessel’s keel, on which the base of a mast is seated.
  • Physics an abrupt change in the value of a quantity, especially voltage.
  • 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 for justice
  • 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 an interval in a scale; a tone (whole step) or semitone (half step).
  • 5step aerobics: [as modifier]:a step class

verb (steps, stepping, stepped)

  • 1 [no object] 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:young men have temporarily stepped out of the labor market
  • 2 [with object] Nautical set up (a mast) in its step.

Phrases

break step

stop walking or marching in step with others.

fall into step

change the way one is walking so that one is walking in step with another person.

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.

keep step

remain walking, marching, or dancing in step.

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 adjective]: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.

step on it (or step on the gas)

informal go faster, typically in a motor vehicle.

step (or tread) on someone's toes

offend someone by encroaching on their area of responsibility.

step out of line

behave inappropriately or disobediently.

step up to the plate

take action in response to an opportunity or crisis.

Phrasal Verbs

step aside

another way of saying step down below.

step back

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

step down

withdraw or resign from an important position or office:Mr. Krenz stepped down as party leader a week ago

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 or problematic situation, especially in order to help or prevent something from happening.
act as a substitute for someone:Lucy stepped in at very short notice to take Joan’s place

step out

  • 1leave a room or building, typically for a short time.
  • 2 informal go out to have a good time:he was stepping out with a redheaded waitress
  • 3walk with long or vigorous steps:she enjoyed the outing, stepping out manfully

step something up

increase the amount, speed, or intensity of something:police decided to step up security plans for the game
increase voltage using a transformer.

Derivatives

steplike

Pronunciation: /-ˌlīk/

adjective

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 British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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