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1. A course of action made as part of progress toward a goal
   "the police took steps to reduce crime";
   - measure
    
2. The distance covered by a step
   "he stepped off ten steps from the old tree and began to dig";
   - footstep, pace, stride
    
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";
   - stair
    
5. Relative position in a graded series
   "always a step behind"; "keep in step with the fashions";
   - gradation
    
6. A short distance
   "it's only a step to the pharmacy";
   - stone's throw
    
7. The sound of a step of someone walking
   "he heard steps on the porch";
   - footfall, footstep
    
8. A musical interval of two semitones
   - tone, whole tone, whole step
    
9. A mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
   - footprint, footmark, footstep
    
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";
    - dance step

1. Shift or move by taking a step
   "step back"
    
2. Put down or press the foot, place the foot
   "step on the brake";
   - tread
    
3. Cause (a computer) to execute a single command
    
4. (architecture) furnish with steps
   "The architect wants to step the terrace"
    
5. Move with one's feet in a specific manner
   "step lively"
    
6. Walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner
   "step over to the blackboard"
    
7. Place (a ship's mast) in its step
    
8. Measure (distances) by pacing
   "step off ten yards";
   - pace
    
9. 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"

Sounds like: steely, step

Derived forms: steps, stepped, stepping

See also: step out

Type of: block, execute, furnish, go, indefinite quantity, interval, lay, locomote, locomotion, maneuver [US], manoeuvre [Brit, Cdn], mark, measure, move, musical interval, offer, place, pose, position, print, provide, put, quantify, quantitate, rank, render, run, set, small indefinite amount, small indefinite quantity, sound, supply, support, tactical maneuver [US], tactical manoeuvre [Brit, Cdn], travel, walk

Part of: hoofing, staircase, stairway, step dancing

Encyclopedia: Step