Meaning & Definition of Step in English
Step
noun
1. Any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
- "The situation called for strong measures"
- "The police took steps to reduce crime"
- measure,
- step
2. The distance covered by a step
- "He stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig"
- footstep,
- pace,
- step,
- stride
3. The act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down
- "He walked with unsteady steps"
- step
4. Support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
- "He paused on the bottom step"
- step,
- stair
5. Relative position in a graded series
- "Always a step behind"
- "Subtle gradations in color"
- "Keep in step with the fashions"
- gradation,
- step
6. A short distance
- "It's only a step to the drugstore"
- step,
- stone's throw
7. The sound of a step of someone walking
- "He heard footsteps on the porch"
- footfall,
- footstep,
- step
8. A musical interval of two semitones
- tone,
- whole tone,
- step,
- whole step
9. A mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
- "The police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window"
- footprint,
- footmark,
- step
10. A solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed
- step
11. A sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance
- "He taught them the waltz step"
- dance step,
- step
verb
1. Shift or move by taking a step
- "Step back"
- step
2. Put down or press the foot, place the foot
- "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread"
- "Step on the brake"
- step,
- tread
3. Cause (a computer) to execute a single command
- step
4. Treat badly
- "This boss abuses his workers"
- "She is always stepping on others to get ahead"
- mistreat,
- maltreat,
- abuse,
- ill-use,
- step,
- ill-treat
5. Furnish with steps
- "The architect wants to step the terrace"
- step
6. Move with one's feet in a specific manner
- "Step lively"
- step
7. Walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner
- "Step over to the blackboard"
- step
8. Place (a ship's mast) in its step
- step
9. Measure (distances) by pacing
- "Step off ten yards"
- pace,
- step
10. Move or proceed as if by steps into a new situation
- "She stepped into a life of luxury"
- "He won't step into his father's footsteps"
- step