Step definition
Step foot on land.
Step on the brake.
Step off ten yards.
Diagrammed the basic steps to the mambo.
Terraces that are stepped along the hillside.
- Any of the parts of a stairway formed by a tread supported by a riser.
- The tread itself.
Stepchild, stepparent.
Just a step away.
An example of a step is one stair in a staircase.
An example of a step is the first part in a scientific experiment.
An example of to step is to place a foot on a path.
A step up in the corporate hierarchy.
Keep step.
Steps in the mud.
Turned her steps toward home.
Followed every step in the instructions.
Step back.
Step over to the corner.
Step off ten paces.
Step lively.
Stepping into a life of ease.
He is always stepping on other people.
- A bend or angle, as in a supply pipe, for passing around an obstruction.
- A shelf or ledge cut in mining or quarrying.
- (naut.) A raised frame or platform for supporting the butt end of a mast.
- Any of a series of angled surfaces on the underside of the hull of a hydroplane or seaplane.
One step nearer victory.
Explain the next step.
To retrace one's steps.
The goose step.
Step outside.
To step into a fortune.
To step on the brake.
To step tests.
To step to one of the neighbors.
The driver must have a clear view of the step in order to prevent accidents.
One step is generally about three feet, but may be more or less. He improved step by step, or by steps.
Stepparent.
- Moving in rhythm.
- In conformity with one's environment:In step with the times.
- Not moving in rhythm:Recruits marching out of step.
- Not in conformity with one's environment:Out of step with the times.
- By degrees.
- To go faster; hurry.
- to stop marching in cadence
- conforming to a rhythm or cadence as in marching or dancing; esp., conforming to the cadence of another marcher or other marchers
- in conformity or agreement
- to stay in step
- not in step
- gradually or slowly
- by marking or noting, or by explaining, each stage in a process
- to resign or abdicate (from an office, position, etc.)
- to decrease or reduce, as in rate, by or as by one or more steps, or degrees
- to intervene
- to dance
- to go faster; hurry; hasten
- to leave a room or building for a short time
- to start to walk briskly, esp. with long strides
- to go out for a good time
- to be unfaithful to
- to go or come near; approach
- to advance or progress
- to increase or raise, as in rate, by or as by one or more steps, or degrees
- step up to the plate (see phrase below)
- to take one's position in the batter's box
- to meet one's responsibility or challenge; rise to the occasion
- to adopt certain means or measures in order to facilitate, hinder, or modify something
- to exercise care in walking or stepping
- to be careful or cautious
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
Origin of step
-
From Webster's New World College Dictionary, 5th Edition
- Middle English from Old English stæpe, stepe
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English from Old English stēop-
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Middle English steppen, from Old English steppan (“to step, go, proceed, advance"), stepe (“step"), from Proto-Germanic *stapjanÄ… (“to step"), *stapiz (“step"), from Proto-Indo-European *stÁb-, *stÁbʰ-, *stemb-, *stembʰ- (“to support, stomp, curse, be amazed"). Cognate with West Frisian stappe (“to step"), North Frisian stape (“to walk, trudge"), Dutch stappen (“to step, walk"), German stapfen (“to trudge, stomp, plod"). Related to stamp, stomp.
From Wiktionary
- From Middle English step-, from Old English stÄ“op- (“deprived of a relative, step-", prefix), from Proto-Germanic *steupa- (“orphaned, step-"), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teup- (“to push, strike"). Cognate with Scots step- (“step-"), West Frisian stiep- (“step-"), Dutch stief- (“step-"), Low German steef- (“step-"), German stief- (“step-"), Swedish styv- (“step-"), Icelandic stjúp- (“step-"). Related to Old English stÄ«epan (“to deprive, bereave").
From Wiktionary