step

Meanings

• any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
  • "the police took steps to reduce crime"
• the distance covered by a step
  • "he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig"
• 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"
• relative position in a graded series
  • "always a step behind"
  • "keep in step with the fashions"
• a short distance
  • "it's only a step to the drugstore"
• the sound of a step of someone walking
  • "he heard footsteps on the porch"
• a musical interval of two semitones
• a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
• 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"
• shift or move by taking a step
  • "step back"
• put down or press the foot, place the foot
  • "step on the brake"
• cause (a computer) to execute a single command
• treat badly
  • "She is always stepping on others to get ahead"
• 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"
• 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"

Synonyms

abuse, dance step, footfall, footmark, footprint, footstep, gradation, ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, measure, mistreat, pace, stair, stone's throw, stride, tone, tread, whole step, whole tone