Noun
1. any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal;
"the situation called for strong measures""the police took steps to reduce crime"2. the distance covered by a step;
"he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig"3. the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down;
"he walked with unsteady steps"4. support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway;
"he paused on the bottom step"5. relative position in a graded series;
"always a step behind""subtle gradations in color""keep in step with the fashions"6. a short distance;
"it's only a step to the drugstore"7. the sound of a step of someone walking;
"he heard footsteps on the porch"8. a musical interval of two semitones
9. a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface;
"the police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window"10. a solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed
11. a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance;
"he taught them the waltz step"Verb
1. shift or move by taking a step;
"step back"2. put down or press the foot, place the foot;
"For fools rush in where angels fear to tread""step on the brake"3. cause (a computer) to execute a single command
4. treat badly;
"This boss abuses his workers""She is always stepping on others to get ahead"5. furnish with steps;
"The architect wants to step the terrace"6. move with one's feet in a specific manner;
"step lively"7. walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner;
"step over to the blackboard"8. place (a ship's mast) in its step
9. measure (distances) by pacing;
"step off ten yards"10. 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"