Overview of noun step

The noun step has 11 senses

• measure, step -- (any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal; "the situation called for strong measures"; "the police took steps to reduce crime")


• footstep, pace, step, stride -- (the distance covered by a step; "he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig")


• step -- (the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down; "he walked with unsteady steps")


• step, stair -- (support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway; "he paused on the bottom step")


• gradation, step -- (relative position in a graded series; "always a step behind"; "subtle gradations in color"; "keep in step with the fashions")


• step, stone's throw -- (a short distance; "it's only a step to the drugstore")


• footfall, footstep, step -- (the sound of a step of someone walking; "he heard footsteps on the porch")


• tone, whole tone, step, whole step -- (a musical interval of two semitones)


• footprint, footmark, step -- (a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface; "the police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window")


• step -- (a solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed)


• dance step, step -- (a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance; "he taught them the waltz step")

Overview of verb step

The verb step has 10 senses

• step -- (shift or move by taking a step; "step back")


• step, tread -- (put down or press the foot, place the foot; "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread"; "step on the brake")


• step -- (cause (a computer) to execute a single command)


• mistreat, maltreat, abuse, ill-use, step, ill-treat -- (treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead")


• step -- (furnish with steps; "The architect wants to step the terrace")


• step -- (move with one's feet in a specific manner; "step lively")


• step -- (walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner; "step over to the blackboard")


• step -- (place (a ship's mast) in its step)


• pace, step -- (measure (distances) by pacing; "step off ten yards")


• step -- (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")