I. ˈstep noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English stæpe; akin to Old High German stapfo step, stampfōn to stamp
Date: before 12th century
1. : a rest for the foot in ascending or descending: as
a. : one of a series of structures consisting of a riser and a tread
b. : a ladder rung
2.
a.
(1) : an advance or movement made by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere
(2) : a combination of foot or foot and body movements constituting a unit or a repeated pattern
a dance step
(3) : manner of walking : stride
b. : footprint 1
c. : the sound of a footstep
heard step s in the hall
3.
a. : the space passed over in one step
b. : a short distance
just a step away from the bank
c. : the height of one stair
4. plural : course , way
directed his step s toward the river
5.
a. : a degree, grade, or rank in a scale
b. : a stage in a process
was guided through every step of my career
6. : a frame on a ship designed to receive an upright shaft ; especially : a block supporting the heel of a mast
7. : an action, proceeding, or measure often occurring as one in a series
taking step s to improve the situation
8. : a steplike offset or part usually occurring in a series
9. : an interval in a musical scale
10. : step aerobics
11. : a slight lead in or as if in a race
has a step on the competition
• step·like -ˌlīk adjective
• stepped ˈstept adjective
•
- in step
- out of step
II. verb
( stepped ; step·ping )
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in succession
b. : dance
2.
a. : to go on foot : walk
b. obsolete : advance , proceed
c. : to be on one's way : leave — often used with along
d. : to move briskly
kept us stepping
3. : to press down with the foot
step on the brake
4. : to come as if at a single step
stepped into a good job
transitive verb
1. : to take by moving the feet in succession
step three paces
2.
a. : to move (the foot) in any direction : set
the first man to step foot on the moon
hasn't stepped foot in our house since the quarrel
b. : to traverse on foot
3. : to go through the steps of : perform
step a minuet
4. : to make erect by fixing the lower end in a step
step the mast
5. : to measure by steps
step off 50 yards
6.
a. : to provide with steps
b. : to make steps in
step a key
7. : to construct or arrange in or as if in steps
craggy peaks with terraces stepped up the sides — Time
•
- step on it