n.
- 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.
- one of the sequences of movement of the feet which make up a dance.
- a flat surface, especially one in a series, on which to place one's foot when moving from one level to another.
▸a doorstep.
▸a rung of a ladder.
▸
(steps or a pair of steps)
Brit. a stepladder.
▸step aerobics.
▸Climbing a foothold cut in a slope of ice.
- a measure or action, especially one of a series taken in order to deal with or achieve a particular thing.
- a position or grade in a scale or hierarchy.
- Music, N. Amer. an interval in a scale; a tone (whole step) or semitone (half step).
- Physics an abrupt change in the value of a quantity, especially voltage.
- a block fixed to a boat's keel in order to take the base of a mast or other fitting.
v.
(steps, stepping, stepped)
- lift and set down one's foot or one foot after the other in order to walk somewhere or move to a new position.
- Nautical set up (a mast) in its step.
Phrase
- in
(or out of)
step
- walking, marching, or dancing in the same (or a different) rhythm and pace as others.
- conforming (or not conforming) to what others are doing or thinking.
- 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 steps
do as someone else did, especially in making a journey or following a career. - mind
(or watch)
one's step
walk or act carefully. - step into someone's shoes
take control of a task or job from another person. - step on it
informal go faster. - step out of line
behave inappropriately or disobediently. - step up to the plate
N. Amer. take action in response to an opportunity or crisis.
Phrase verbal
Derivative
- stepped adj.
- stepwise adj.
Etymology
OE stæpe, stepe (n.), stæppan, steppan (v.), of Gmc origin.
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