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step - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'step' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Step [ a.]
- To move the foot in walking; to advance or recede by raising and moving one of the feet to another resting place, or by moving both feet in succession.
- To walk; to go on foot; esp., to walk a little distance; as, to step to one of the neighbors.
- To walk slowly, gravely, or resolutely.
- Fig.: To move mentally; to go in imagination.
2 . Step [ v. i.]
- An advance or movement made by one removal of the foot; a pace.
- A rest, or one of a set of rests, for the foot in ascending or descending, as a stair, or a round of a ladder.
- The space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running; as, one step is generally about three feet, but may be more or less. Used also figuratively of any kind of progress; as, he improved step by step, or by steps.
- A small space or distance; as, it is but a step.
- A print of the foot; a footstep; a footprint; track.
- Gait; manner of walking; as, the approach of a man is often known by his step.
- Proceeding; measure; action; an act.
- Walk; passage.
- A portable framework of stairs, much used indoors in reaching to a high position.
- In general, a framing in wood or iron which is intended to receive an upright shaft; specif., a block of wood, or a solid platform upon the keelson, supporting the heel of the mast.
- One of a series of offsets, or parts, resembling the steps of stairs, as one of the series of parts of a cone pulley on which the belt runs.
- A bearing in which the lower extremity of a spindle or a vertical shaft revolves.
- The intervak between two contiguous degrees of the csale.
- A change of position effected by a motion of translation.
3 . Step [ v. t.]
- To set, as the foot.
- To fix the foot of (a mast) in its step; to erect.

Meaning of 'step' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . step [ n]
Meaning (1):
- relative position in a graded series
Example in sentence:
  • always a step behind;
  • keep in step with the fashions;
  • subtle gradations in color
Meaning (2):
- the sound of a step of someone walking
Example in sentence:
  • he heard footsteps on the porch
Meaning (3):
- support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
Example in sentence:
  • he paused on the bottom step
Meaning (4):
- the distance covered by a step
Example in sentence:
  • he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig
Meaning (5):
- a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance
Example in sentence:
  • he taught them the waltz step
Meaning (6):
- the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down
Example in sentence:
  • he walked with unsteady steps
Meaning (7):
- a short distance
Example in sentence:
  • it's only a step to the drugstore
Meaning (8):
- a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
Example in sentence:
  • the police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window
Meaning (9):
- any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
Example in sentence:
  • the police took steps to reduce crime;
  • the situation called for strong measures
10 . step [ v]
Meaning (10):
- put down or press the foot, place the foot
Example in sentence:
  • For fools rush in where angels fear to tread;
  • step on the brake
Meaning (11):
- move or proceed as if by steps into a new situation
Example in sentence:
  • he won't step into his father's footsteps;
  • She stepped into a life of luxury
Meaning (12):
- treat badly
Example in sentence:
  • She is always stepping on others to get ahead;
  • This boss abuses his workers
Meaning (13):
- shift or move by taking a step
Example in sentence:
  • step back
Meaning (14):
- move with one's feet in a specific manner
Example in sentence:
  • step lively
Meaning (15):
- measure (distances) by pacing
Example in sentence:
  • step off ten yards
Meaning (16):
- walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner
Example in sentence:
  • step over to the blackboard
Meaning (17):
- furnish with steps
Example in sentence:
  • The architect wants to step the terrace

Nearby Words:

stead steadfast steadfastly steadfastness steadied steadily steadiness steading steady steadying

See 'step' also in:

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