Collins English-English Dictionary

step [stεp]

1. 1. n the act of motion brought about by raising the foot and setting it down again in coordination with the transference of the weight of the body

2. 2. n the distance or space covered by such a motion

3. 3. n the sound made by such a movement

4. 4. n the impression made by such movement of the foot; footprint

5. 5. n the manner of walking or moving the feet; gait

   he received his prize with a proud step

6. 6. n a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance or part of a dance

   I have mastered the steps of the waltz

7. 7. n any of several paces or rhythmic movements in marching, dancing, etc

   the goose step

8. 8. n [plural] a course followed by a person in walking or as walking

   they followed in their leader's steps

9. 9. n one of a sequence of separate consecutive stages in the progression towards some goal

   another step towards socialism

10. 10. n a rank or grade in a series or scale

    he was always a step behind

11. 11. n an object or device that offers support for the foot when ascending or descending

12. 12. n [plural] a flight of stairs, esp out of doors

13. 13. n another name for stepladder

14. 14. n [plural] a very short easily walked distance

    it is only a step to my place

15. 15. n [music] a melodic interval of a second - See whole tone half-step

16. 16. n an offset or change in the level of a surface similar to the step of a stair

17. 17. n a strong block or frame bolted onto the keel of a vessel and fitted to receive the base of a mast

18. 18. n a ledge cut in mining or quarrying excavations

19. 19. vi. [intr] to move by raising the foot and then setting it down in a different position, transferring the weight of the body to this foot and repeating the process with the other foot

20. 20. vi. [intr; often foll by in, out, etc] to move or go on foot, esp for a short distance

    step this way, ladies

21. 21. vi. [intr] [informal] [chiefly US] to move, often in an attractive graceful manner, as in dancing

    he can really step around

22. 22. vi. [intr; usually foll by on or upon] to place or press the foot; tread

    to step on the accelerator

23. 23. vi. [intr; usually foll by into] to enter (into a situation) apparently with ease

    she stepped into a life of luxury

24. 24. vt. [tr] to walk or take (a number of paces, etc)

    to step ten paces

25. 25. vt. [tr] to perform the steps of

    they step the tango well

26. 26. vt. [tr] to set or place (the foot)

27. 27. vt. [tr; usually foll by off or out] to measure (some distance of ground) by stepping

28. 28. vt. [tr] to arrange in or supply with a series of steps so as to avoid coincidence or symmetry

29. 29. vt. [tr] to raise (a mast) and fit it into its step

30. 30. vt. See also step down step in step on step out step up

31. 31. vt. [Etymology] Old English stepe, stæpe; related to Old Frisian stap, stepe, Old High German stapfo (German Stapfe footprint), Old Norse stapi high rock