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noun
1.
2.
such a movement followed by a movement of equal distance of the other foot: The soldier took one step forward and stood at attention.
3.
the space passed over or the distance measured by one such movement of the foot.
4.
the sound made by the foot in making such a movement.
5.
EXPANDa mark or impression made by the foot on the ground; footprint.
6.
the manner of walking; gait; stride.
7.
pace in marching: double-quick step.
8.
a pace uniform with that of another or others, or in time with music.
9.
steps, movements or course in walking or running: to retrace one's steps.
10.
a move, act, or proceeding, as toward some end or in the general course of some action; stage, measure, or period: the five steps to success.
11.
rank, degree, or grade, as on a vertical scale.
12.
a support for the foot in ascending or descending: a step of a ladder; a stair of 14 steps.
13.
a very short distance: She was never more than a step away from her children.
14.
a repeated pattern or unit of movement in a dance formed by a combination of foot and body motions.
16.
Music.
a.
a degree of the staff or of the scale.
b.
the interval between two adjacent scale degrees; second. Compare semitone, whole step.
17.
steps, British. a stepladder.
18.
an offset part of anything.
19.
Nautical. a socket, frame, or platform for supporting the lower end of a mast.
20.
COLLAPSEMining. a flat-topped ledge on the face of a quarry or a mine working.
verb (used without object)
21.
to move, go, etc., by lifting the foot and setting it down again in a new position, or by using the feet alternately in this manner: to step forward.
22.
to walk, or go on foot, especially for a few strides or a short distance: Step over to the bar.
23.
to move with measured steps, as in a dance.
24.
to go briskly or fast, as a horse.
25.
EXPANDto obtain, find, win, come upon, etc., something easily and naturally, as if by a mere step of the foot: to step into a good business opportunity.
26.
to put the foot down; tread by intention or accident: to step on a cat's tail.
27.
COLLAPSEto press with the foot, as on a lever, spring, or the like, in order to operate some mechanism.
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Steps
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
verb (used with object)
Verb phrases28.
to take (a step, pace, stride, etc.).
29.
to go through or perform the steps of (a dance).
30.
to move or set (the foot) in taking a step.
31.
to measure (a distance, ground, etc.) by steps (sometimes followed by off or out).
32.
EXPANDto make or arrange in the manner of a series of steps.
33.
COLLAPSENautical. to fix (a mast) in its step.
34.
step down,
a.
to lower or decrease by degrees.
b.
to relinquish one's authority or control; resign: Although he was past retirement age, he refused to step down and let his son take over the business.
35.
step in, to become involved; intervene, as in a quarrel or fight: The brawl was well under way by the time the police stepped in.
36.
step out,
a.
to leave a place, especially for a brief period of time.
b.
to walk or march at a more rapid pace.
c.
to go out to a social gathering or on a date: We're stepping out tonight.
37.
Idiomsstep up,
a.
to raise or increase by degrees: to step up production.
b.
to be promoted; advance.
c.
to make progress; improve.
38.
break step, to interrupt or cease walking or marching in step: The marching units were allowed to break step after they had passed the reviewing stand.
39.
in step,
a.
moving in time to a rhythm or with the corresponding step of others.
b.
in harmony or conformity with: They are not in step with the times.
40.
keep step, to keep pace; stay in step: The construction of classrooms and the training of teachers have not kept step with population growth.
41.
out of step,
a.
not in time to a rhythm or corresponding to the step of others.
b.
not in harmony or conformity with: They are out of step with the others in their group.
42.
EXPANDstep by step,
a.
from one stage to the next in sequence.
b.
gradually and steadily: We were shown the steelmaking process step by step.
43.
step on it, Informal. to hasten one's activity or steps; hurry up: If we don't step on it, we'll miss the show.
44.
take steps, to set about putting something into operation; begin to act: I will take steps to see that your application is processed.
45.
COLLAPSEwatch one's step, to proceed with caution; behave prudently: If she doesn't watch her step, she will be fired from her job.
Origin:
before 900; (v.) Middle English steppen, Old English steppan; cognate with Old High German stepfen; akin to stamp; (noun) Middle English; Old English stepe
before 900; (v.) Middle English steppen, Old English steppan; cognate with Old High German stepfen; akin to stamp; (noun) Middle English; Old English stepe
Related forms
step·less, adjective
step·like, adjective
coun·ter·step, noun, verb, -stepped, -step·ping.
out·step, verb (used with object), -stepped, -step·ping.
un·der·step, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To STEPS
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
step
O.E. steppa (Mercian), stæpe, stepe (W.Saxon) "stair, act of stepping," from the source of step (v.). Meaning "action which leads toward a result" is recorded from 1549. Stepladder (one with steps instead of rungs) is from 1751. Warning phrase watch your step is attested
EXPANDfrom 1934. Step-dancing first recorded 1886.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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