Main Entry:

¹step

Pronunciation:

\ˈstep\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English stæpe; akin to Old High German stapfo step, stampfōn to stamp

Date:

before 12th century

1: a rest for the foot in ascending or descending: as a: one of a series of structures consisting of a riser and a tread b: a ladder rung 2 a (1): an advance or movement made by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere (2): a combination of foot or foot and body movements constituting a unit or a repeated pattern <a dance step> (3): manner of walking : stride b: footprint 1 c: the sound of a footstep3 a: the space passed over in one step b: a short distance c: the height of one stair4plural : course, way <directed his steps toward the river>5 a: a degree, grade, or rank in a scale b: a stage in a process <was guided through every step of my career>6: a frame on a ship designed to receive an upright shaft ; especially : a block supporting the heel of a mast7: an action, proceeding, or measure often occurring as one in a series <taking steps to improve the situation>8: a steplike offset or part usually occurring in a series9: an interval in a musical scale10: step aerobics11: a slight lead in or as if in a race <has a step on the competition>

— step·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— stepped \ˈstept\ adjective

— in step

1: with each foot moving to the same time as the corresponding foot of others or in time to music2: in harmony or agreement

— out of step

: not in step <out of step with the times>