Dictionary Definition
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" [syn: measure]
2 the distance covered by a step; "he stepped off
ten paces from the old tree and began to dig" [syn: footstep, pace, stride]
3 the act of changing location by raising the
foot and setting it down; "he walked with unsteady steps"
4 support consisting of a place to rest the foot
while ascending or descending a stairway; "he paused on the bottom
step" [syn: stair]
5 relative position in a graded series; "always a
step behind"; "subtle gradations in color"; "keep in step with the
fashions" [syn: gradation]
6 a short distance; "it's only a step to the
drugstore" [syn: stone's
throw]
7 the sound of a step of someone walking; "he
heard footsteps on the porch" [syn: footfall, footstep]
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" [syn: footprint, footmark]
10 a solid block joined to the beams in which the
heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed
11 a sequence of foot movements that make up a
particular dance; "he taught them the waltz step" [syn: dance
step]
Verb
1 shift or move by taking a step; "step
back"
2 put down or press the foot, place the foot;
"For fools rush in where angels fear to tread"; "step on the brake"
[syn: tread]
3 cause (a computer) to execute a single
command
4 treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers";
"She is always stepping on others to get ahead" [syn: mistreat, maltreat, abuse, ill-use, ill-treat]
5 furnish with steps; "The architect wants to
step the terrace"
6 move with one's feet in a specific manner;
"step lively"
7 walk a short distance to a specified place or
in a specified manner; "step over to the blackboard"
8 place (a ship's mast) in its step
9 measure (distances) by pacing; "step off ten
yards" [syn: pace]
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" [also: stepping, stepped]stepped See step