Step Definition

stĕp

stepped, stepping, steps

noun

steps

The single complete movement of raising one foot and putting it down in another spot, as in walking.

American Heritage

The distance covered by such a movement.

Webster's New World

The act of moving and placing the foot forward, backward, sideways, up, or down, as in walking, dancing, or climbing.

Webster's New World

A manner of stepping; gait.

Webster's New World

Any of various paces or strides in marching.

The goose step.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

stepped, stepping, steps

To take (one or more strides or paces)

Webster's New World

To move with measured steps, as in dancing.

Webster's New World

To walk, esp. a short distance.

Step outside.

Webster's New World

To move across or over on foot.

Webster's New World

To press down with the foot (on something)

To step on the brake.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
hop
mince
march
pass
descend
ascend
go down
go up
go backward
go forward
recede
walk
move
tread
move backward

prefix

Related by means of a remarriage rather than by blood.

Stepparent.

American Heritage

A prefix used before father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, child, and so forth, to indicate that the person being identified is not a blood relative but is related through the marriage of a parent.

Wiktionary

affix

Related through the remarriage of a parent.

Stepchild, stepparent.

Webster's New World

idiom

in step

Moving in rhythm.
In conformity with one's environment:
in step with the times.

American Heritage

out of step

Not moving in rhythm:
recruits marching out of step.
Not in conformity with one's environment:
out of step with the times.

American Heritage

step by step

By degrees.

American Heritage

step on it

To go faster; hurry.

American Heritage

break step

to stop marching in cadence

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Step

Noun

Singular:

step

Plural:

steps

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Step

Origin of Step

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-, *stÁbÊ°-, *stemb-, *stembÊ°- (“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
ME < OE steop-, orphaned (akin to Ger stief-, ON stjup-) < base of stiepan, to bereave, prob. < IE *(s)teub-, to strike (hence “cut off”) > stump, steep: orig. used of orphaned children

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