Definition of 'step'
Noun
- any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal; "the situation called for strong measures"; "the police took steps to reduce crime"
Synonyms: measure - the distance covered by a step; "he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig"
Synonyms: footstep pace stride - the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down; "he walked with unsteady steps"
- support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway; "he paused on the bottom step"
Synonyms: stair - relative position in a graded series; "always a step behind"; "subtle gradations in color"; "keep in step with the fashions"
Synonyms: gradation - a short distance; "it's only a step to the drugstore"
Synonyms: stone's throw - the sound of a step of someone walking; "he heard footsteps on the porch"
Synonyms: footfall footstep - a musical interval of two semitones
Synonyms: tone whole tone whole step - a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface; "the police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window"
Synonyms: footprint footmark - a solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed
- a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance; "he taught them the waltz step"
Synonyms: dance step
Verb
- shift or move by taking a step; "step back"
- put down or press the foot, place the foot; "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread"; "step on the brake"
Synonyms: tread - cause (a computer) to execute a single command
- treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead"
Synonyms: mistreat maltreat abuse ill-use ill-treat - furnish with steps; "The architect wants to step the terrace"
- move with one's feet in a specific manner; "step lively"
- walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner; "step over to the blackboard"
- place (a ship's mast) in its step
- measure (distances) by pacing; "step off ten yards"
Synonyms: pace - 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"
