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step by step

 - 4 dictionary results
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step

  [step] ,noun, verb, stepped, step⋅ping.
Use step by step in a Sentence
–noun
1. a movement made by lifting the foot and setting it down again in a new position, accompanied by a shifting of the weight of the body in the direction of the new position, as in walking, running, or dancing.
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. a 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.
15. step aerobics.
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. Mining. 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, esp. 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. to 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. to press with the foot, as on a lever, spring, or the like, in order to operate some mechanism.
–verb (used with object)
28. 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 fol. by off or out).
32. to make or arrange in the manner of a series of steps.
33. Nautical. to fix (a mast) in its step.
—Verb phrases
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, esp. 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. step up,
a. to raise or increase by degrees: to step up production.
b. to be promoted; advance.
c. to make progress; improve.
—Idioms
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. step 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. watch one's step, to proceed with caution; behave prudently: If she doesn't watch her step, she will be fired from her job.
Origin:
bef. 900; (v.) ME steppen, OE steppan; c. OHG stepfen; akin to stamp; (n.) ME; OE stepe

Related forms:
stepless, adjective
steplike, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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step   (stěp)   
n.  

    1. The single complete movement of raising one foot and putting it down in another spot, as in walking.

    2. A manner of walking; a particular gait.

    3. A fixed rhythm or pace, as in marching: keep step.

    4. The sound of a footstep.

    5. A footprint: steps in the mud.

    6. The distance traversed by moving one foot ahead of the other.

    7. A very short distance: just a step away.

    8. steps Course; path: turned her steps toward home.

    9. A rest for the foot in ascending or descending.

    10. steps Stairs.

    11. Something, such as a ledge or an offset, that resembles a step of a stairway.

    12. One of a series of actions, processes, or measures taken to achieve a goal.

    13. A stage in a process: followed every step in the instructions.

    14. The interval that separates two successive tones of a scale.

    15. A degree of a scale.

    1. The distance traversed by moving one foot ahead of the other.

    2. A very short distance: just a step away.

    3. steps Course; path: turned her steps toward home.

    4. A rest for the foot in ascending or descending.

    5. steps Stairs.

    6. Something, such as a ledge or an offset, that resembles a step of a stairway.

    7. One of a series of actions, processes, or measures taken to achieve a goal.

    8. A stage in a process: followed every step in the instructions.

    9. The interval that separates two successive tones of a scale.

    10. A degree of a scale.

  3. One of a series of rhythmical, patterned movements of the feet used in a dance: diagrammed the basic steps to the mambo.

    1. A rest for the foot in ascending or descending.

    2. steps Stairs.

    3. Something, such as a ledge or an offset, that resembles a step of a stairway.

    4. One of a series of actions, processes, or measures taken to achieve a goal.

    5. A stage in a process: followed every step in the instructions.

    6. The interval that separates two successive tones of a scale.

    7. A degree of a scale.

    1. One of a series of actions, processes, or measures taken to achieve a goal.

    2. A stage in a process: followed every step in the instructions.

    3. The interval that separates two successive tones of a scale.

    4. A degree of a scale.

  6. A degree in progress or a grade or rank in a scale: a step up in the corporate hierarchy.

  7. Music

    1. The interval that separates two successive tones of a scale.

    2. A degree of a scale.

  8. Nautical The block in which the heel of a mast is fixed.

v.   stepped, step·ping, steps

v.   intr.

  1. To put or press the foot: step on the brake.

  2. To shift or move slightly by taking a step or two: step back.

  3. To walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified direction: step over to the corner.

  4. To move with the feet in a particular manner: step lively.

  5. To move into a new situation by or as if by taking a single step: stepping into a life of ease.

  6. To treat someone with arrogant indifference: He is always stepping on other people.

v.   tr.

  1. To put or set (the foot) down: step foot on land.

  2. To measure by pacing: step off ten yards.

  3. To furnish with steps; make steps in: terraces that are stepped along the hillside.

  4. Computer Science To cause (a computer) to execute a single instruction.

  5. Nautical To place (a mast) in its step.

  6. To resign from a high post.

  7. To reduce, especially in stages: stepping down the electric power.

  8. To enter into an activity or a situation.

  9. To intervene.

  10. To walk briskly.

  11. To go outside for a short time.

  12. Informal To go out for a special evening of entertainment.

  13. To withdraw; quit.

  14. To increase, especially in stages: step up production.

  15. To come forward: step up and be counted.

  16. To improve one's performance or take on more responsibility, especially at a crucial time.

Phrasal Verb(s):
step asideTo resign from a post, especially when being replaced.
step down

  1. To resign from a high post.

  2. To reduce, especially in stages: stepping down the electric power.

step in

  1. To enter into an activity or a situation.

  2. To intervene.

step out

  1. To walk briskly.

  2. To go outside for a short time.

  3. Informal To go out for a special evening of entertainment.

  4. To withdraw; quit.

step up

  1. To increase, especially in stages: step up production.

  2. To come forward: step up and be counted.

  3. To improve one's performance or take on more responsibility, especially at a crucial time.


Idiom(s):
in step

  1. Moving in rhythm.

  2. In conformity with one's environment: in step with the times.


Idiom(s):
out of step

  1. Not moving in rhythm: recruits marching out of step.

  2. Not in conformity with one's environment: out of step with the times.


Idiom(s):
step by stepBy degrees.

Idiom(s):
step on it Informal To go faster; hurry.

[Middle English, from Old English stæpe, stepe.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

step  (n.)
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 from 1934. Step-dancing first recorded 1886.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

step by step

By degrees, as in You'll have to go through this recipe step by step. This idiom transfers putting one foot in front of the other to other kinds of progress. [c. 1700]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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