STEP (stepped, stepping)

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does step mean? 

• STEP (noun)
  The noun STEP has 11 senses:

1. any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
2. the distance covered by a step
3. the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down
4. support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
5. relative position in a graded series
6. a short distance
7. the sound of a step of someone walking
8. a musical interval of two semitones
9. a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
10. a solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed
11. a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance

  Familiarity information: STEP used as a noun is familiar.

• STEP (verb)
  The verb STEP has 10 senses:

1. shift or move by taking a step
2. put down or press the foot, place the foot
3. cause (a computer) to execute a single command
4. treat badly
5. furnish with steps
6. move with one's feet in a specific manner
7. walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner
8. place (a ship's mast) in its step
9. measure (distances) by pacing
10. move or proceed as if by steps into a new situation

  Familiarity information: STEP used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STEP (noun)

Sense 1

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

step; measure

Context examples:

the situation called for strong measures / the police took steps to reduce crime

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

maneuver; manoeuvre; tactical maneuver; tactical manoeuvre (a move made to gain a tactical end)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "step"):

countermeasure (an action taken to offset another action)

porcupine provision; shark repellent (a measure undertaken by a corporation to discourage unwanted takeover attempts)

guard; precaution; safeguard (a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.)

Sense 2

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The distance covered by a step

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

stride; step; pace; footstep

Context example:

he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

indefinite quantity (an estimated quantity)

Sense 3

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he walked with unsteady steps

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

locomotion; travel (self-propelled movement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "step"):

footstep (the act of taking a step in walking)

sidestep (a step to one side (as in boxing or dancing))

trip (a light or nimble tread)

pas ((ballet) a step in dancing (especially in classical ballet))

pace; stride; tread (a step in walking or running)

Sense 4

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

stair; step

Context example:

he paused on the bottom step

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

support (any device that bears the weight of another thing)

Meronyms (parts of "step"):

riser (structural member consisting of the vertical part of a stair or step)

tread (structural member consisting of the horizontal part of a stair or step)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "step"):

corbel step; corbie-step; corbiestep; crow step ((architecture) a step on the top of a gable wall)

Holonyms ("step" is a part of...):

staircase; stairway (a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps)

Sense 5

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Relative position in a graded series

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

gradation; step

Context examples:

always a step behind / subtle gradations in color / keep in step with the fashions

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

rank (relative status)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "step"):

cut (a step on some scale)

Sense 6

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A short distance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

stone's throw; step

Context example:

it's only a step to the drugstore

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

Sense 7

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The sound of a step of someone walking

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

footfall; footstep; step

Context example:

he heard footsteps on the porch

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "step"):

tramp (a heavy footfall)

Sense 8

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A musical interval of two semitones

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

whole step; whole tone; step; tone

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

interval; musical interval (the difference in pitch between two notes)

Sense 9

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A mark of a foot or shoe on a surface

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

footmark; footprint; step

Context example:

the police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

mark; print (a visible indication made on a surface)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "step"):

footprint evidence (evidence in the form of footprints)

Sense 10

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

block (a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides))

Sense 11

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

dance step; step

Context example:

he taught them the waltz step

Hypernyms ("step" is a kind of...):

locomotion; travel (self-propelled movement)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "step"):

glissade ((ballet) a gliding or sliding step in ballet)

chasse; sashay ((ballet) quick gliding steps with one foot always leading)

moonwalk (a kind of dance step in which the dancer seems to be sliding on the spot)

Holonyms ("step" is a part of...):

hoofing; step dancing (dancing in which the steps are more important than gestures or postures)

• STEP (verb)

Sense 1

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Shift or move by taking a step

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

step back

Hypernyms (to "step" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "step"):

backpedal (step backwards, in boxing)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Also:

step out (go outside a room or building for a short period of time)

Sense 2

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Put down or press the foot, place the foot

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

tread; step

Context examples:

For fools rush in where angels fear to tread / step on the brake

Hypernyms (to "step" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "step"):

step on; tread on (place or press the foot on)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Cause (a computer) to execute a single command

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "step" is one way to...):

execute; run (carry out a process or program, as on a computer or a machine)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Treat badly

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

mistreat; maltreat; ill-use; ill-treat; abuse; step

Context examples:

This boss abuses his workers / She is always stepping on others to get ahead

Hypernyms (to "step" is one way to...):

do by; handle; treat (interact in a certain way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "step"):

kick around (treat badly; abuse)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 5

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Furnish with steps

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

The architect wants to step the terrace

Hypernyms (to "step" is one way to...):

furnish; provide; render; supply (provide or furnish with)

Domain category:

architecture (the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their esthetic effect)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 6

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Move with one's feet in a specific manner

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

step lively

Hypernyms (to "step" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s Adjective

Sense 7

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

step over to the blackboard

Hypernyms (to "step" is one way to...):

walk (use one's feet to advance; advance by steps)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 8

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Place (a ship's mast) in its step

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "step" is one way to...):

lay; place; pose; position; put; set (put into a certain place or abstract location)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 9

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Measure (distances) by pacing

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

pace; step

Context example:

step off ten yards

Hypernyms (to "step" is one way to...):

measure; quantify (express as a number or measure or quantity)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 10

step [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Move or proceed as if by steps into a new situation

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context examples:

She stepped into a life of luxury / he won't step into his father's footsteps

Hypernyms (to "step" is one way to...):

move (go or proceed from one point to another)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP