■ 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 door~.
↘a rung of a ladder.
↘( ~s or a pair of ~s ) Brit. a ~ladder.
↘~ 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 ~) or semitone (half ~).
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 ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped )
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 ~.
Phrases
in (or out of ) ~
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 ~s do as someone else did, especially in making a journey or following a career.
mind (or watch ) one's ~ walk or act carefully.
~ into someone's shoes take control of a task or job from another person.
~ on it informal go faster.
~ out of line behave inappropriately or disobediently.
Phrasal verbs
~ aside another way of saying ~ down .
~ back mentally withdraw from a situation in order to consider it objectively.
~ down withdraw or resign from a position or office.
~ something down decrease voltage by using a transformer.
~ forward offer one's help or services.
~ in
1》 become involved in a difficult situation, especially in order to help.
2》 act as a substitute for someone.
~ 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 ~s.
~ something up increase the amount, speed, or intensity of something.
↘increase voltage using a transformer.
Derivatives
~ped adjective
~wise adjective
Origin
OE stæpe , ~e (n.), stæppan , ~pan (v.), of Gmc origin.