step en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /stɛp/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (General-American) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *stapjaną Proto-West Germanic *stappjan Old English stæppan Middle English steppen English step From Middle English steppen, from Old English steppan (“to step, go, proceed, advance”), stepe (“step”), from Proto-West Germanic *stappjan, from Proto-Germanic *stapjaną (“to step”), *stapiz (“step”), from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- (“to support, stomp, curse, be amazed”). Cognate with West Frisian stappe (“to step”), North Frisian stape (“to walk, trudge”), Dutch stappen (“to step, walk”), Walloon steper (“to walk away, leave”), German stapfen (“to trudge, stomp, plod”) and further to Slavic Polish stąpać (“to stomp, stamp, step, tread”), Russian ступать (stupatʹ) and Polish stopień (“step, stair, rung, degree”), Russian степень (stepenʹ). Related to stamp, stomp.
Meanings
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An advance or movement made from one foot to the other; a pace.
Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.
1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter III (Accessory After the Fact), page 382, column 1:
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A rest, or one of a set of rests, for the foot in ascending or descending, as a stair, or a rung of a ladder.
The breadth of every single step or stair should be never less than one foot.
1624, Sir Henry Wotton, The Elements Of Architecture:Through the open front door ran Jessamy, down the steps to where Kitto was sitting at the bottom with the pram beside him.
1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 122:One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
- The part of a spade, digging stick or similar tool that a digger's foot rests against and presses on when digging; an ear, a foot-rest.
- The button joining a glass's stem to its foot.
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A distinct part of a process; stage; phase.
He improved step by step, or by steps.
The first step is to find a job.
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A running board where passengers step to get on and off the bus.
The driver must have a clear view of the step in order to prevent accidents.
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The space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running.
One step is generally about three feet, but may be more or less.
To derive two or three general principles of motion from phenomena, and afterwards to tell us how the properties and actions of all corporeal things follow from those manifest principles, would be a very great step in philosophy.
1704, I[saac] N[ewton], “(please specify |book=1 to 3)”, in Opticks: Or, A Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light. […], London: […] Sam[uel] Smith, and Benj[amin] Walford, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC:
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A small space or distance.
It is but a step.
- A print of the foot; a footstep; a footprint; track.
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A gait; manner of walking.
The approach of a man is often known by his step.
Warwick passed through one of the wide brick arches and traversed the building with a leisurely step.
1900, Charles W[addell] Chesnutt, chapter I, in The House Behind the Cedars, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC:
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Proceeding; measure; action; act.
I have lately taken steps[…]to relieve the old gentleman's distresses.
1879, George Washington Cable, Old Creole Days:The reputation of a man depends on the first steps he makes in the world.
1717, Alexander Pope, Preface to his collection of poems:Moon has also requested that government officials take additional steps to help fight pollution, his spokesman said.
2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)Beware of desperate steps. The darkest day, Live till to-morrow, will have passed away.
c. 1792, William Cowper, The Needless Alarm:
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(in-plural) A walk; passage.
Conduct my steps to find the fatal tree.
1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
- (in-plural) A portable framework of stairs, much used indoors in reaching to a high position.
- A framing in wood or iron which is intended to receive an upright shaft; specifically, a block of wood, or a solid platform upon the keelson, supporting the heel of the mast.
- (qualifier:machines) One of a series of offsets, or parts, resembling the steps of stairs, as one of the series of parts of a cone pulley on which the belt runs.
- (qualifier:machines) A bearing in which the lower extremity of a spindle or a vertical shaft revolves.
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The interval between two contiguous degrees of the scale.
Usage note: The word tone is often used as the name of this interval; but there is evident incongruity in using tone for indicating the interval between tones. As the word scale is derived from the Italian scala, a ladder, the intervals may well be called steps.
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A change of position effected by a motion of translation.
A change of position effected by a motion of translation will be called a step.
1878, William Kingdon Clifford, Elements of Dynamic: An Introduction to the Study of Motion:
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A constant difference between consecutive values in a series.
Printing from 0 to 9 with a step of 3 will display 0, 3, 6 and 9.
- (Netherlands, slang) Kick scooter.
- Stepping (style of dance)
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| steps | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
microstep · pep in one's step · step show · hoofstep · stepwell · step-climb · counterstep · two steps ahead · one step at a time · metastep · multistep · Eureka step · goose step · step by step · catstep · Tennessee quick step · step dancing · step motor · stepback · route step · forestep · interstep · stepdancer · mast step · step grate · quickstep · naughty step · understep · step-by-step · coaster step · single-step · Tecumseh step test · step chart · one step ahead · step change · Stepford · Eurostep · stair-step · take a step back · two-step · stepway · corbie-step · false step · between-step · upstep · stepstone · eigenstep · misstep · stepsize · step deal · steppage · in step · superstep · midstep · cross-step · step stool · three-step snake · sidestep · spring in one's step · one-step · hardstep · every step of the way · goose-step · watch one's step · body step · bootstep · pawstep · high-step · corbie step · crowstep · stairstep · macrostep · stepper · stepquote · waterstep · smoothstep · 13th step · Pinoy step · baby step · backstep · time step · a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step · clownstep · rest step · substep · instep · the first step is always the hardest · step-free · stepmeal · timestep · stepstool · step foot · steplike · step time · catch step · step street · oblique step · one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind · stepwise · steplength · stepless · fire step · half-step · retrace one's steps · out of step · step pyramid · Penrose steps · whole step · step climb · step function · Irish step dancing · step rocket · with extra steps · step machine · doorstep · dance step · twelve-step program · umbrella step · steply · lockstep · T-step · stepside · fish steps · step up one's game · kick-step · step flashing · stepwork · stepchair · step aerobics · tread in someone's steps · take steps · step ladder · downstep
Hyponyms
etc. see under back · half · cyclic step · back step · half step
Synonyms
stride (pace)
Translations (384)
de Schritt (footstep) · mi hipanga (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · hy քայլ (pace) · fi askelma (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · da skridt (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · eo ŝtupo (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · sh kȍrāk (pace) · mn алхаа (pace) · pdt Schrett (pace) · ang stæpe (manner of walking) · ang stæpe (footstep) · cs příčka (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · km ជំហាន (pace) · ro pas (pace) · pt estribo (running board) · ro pași (footstep) · eu urrats (pace) · cs krok (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · ru след (footstep) · eo stadio (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · sl hoja (manner of walking) · fur pas (pace) · mi kaupae (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · th ก้าว (pace) · eu maila (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · et samm (pace) · de Schritt (manner of walking) · ur پَد (pace) · ca marxapeu (running board) · ro pași (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · tr adım (pace) · ca pas (pace) · lmo pass (pace) · sv framsteg (proceeding; measure; action; act) · hy աստիճան (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · bg стъ́пка (pace) · pt passo (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · ms langkah (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · el ίχνος (footstep) · sw hatua (running board) · ro pași (proceeding; measure; action; act) · da trin (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · gl paso (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · nb skritt (pace) · vec pas (pace) · kk қадам (pace) · ja 足取り (pace) · fi askel (kinematics: change of position effected by a motion of translation) · pt passo (pace) · hu lépcső (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ltg sūļs (pace) · gv caskeim (pace) · vi bước (pace) · sl sled (footstep) · nb steg (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · ja 道のり (proceeding; measure; action; act) · sw hatua (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · gl alancada (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · ka ნაბიჯი (pace) · bho कदम (pace) · gl paso (small space or distance) · be схо́дзень (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · pt etapa (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · it passo (footstep) · vec scałin (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · lv solis (pace) · ja 道のり (in the plural: walk; passage) · ota آدیم (pace) · cmn 步 (pace) · fi toimenpide (proceeding; measure; action; act) · fi askel (proceeding; measure; action; act) · ko 걸음 (pace) · mn алхам (pace) · oc pas (pace) · ms langkah (pace) · pt etapa (proceeding; measure; action; act) · gv greeish (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · rm pass (pace) · chr ᎠᎩᏠᏒᏍᏗᎢ (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · sv steg (pace) · fr pas (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · kaw langkah (pace) · xdq кканц (pace) · ota مرتبه (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · mnc ᡨᡝᡵᡴᡳᠨ (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · el βήμα (pace) · ota آدیم (footstep) · tg қадам (pace) · fi askelma (running board) · cmn 階 /阶 (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · sk krok (pace) · el φάση (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · ary خطوة (pace) · fa-ira قَدَم (pace) · gd staidhre (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ist scaleîn (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · he צַעַד (pace) · xdq кацӏ (pace) · sw hatua (pace) · th ขั้น (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ro pas (kinematics: change of position effected by a motion of translation) · ba баҫҡыс (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · vec paso (pace) · el σκαλί (music: interval between two contiguous degrees of the scale) · fi kukonaskel (small space or distance) · tyz càm kha (footstep) · bg фа́за (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · fi askel (music: interval between two contiguous degrees of the scale) · ro treaptă (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · uk схі́дець (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · th ขั้นตอน (proceeding; measure; action; act) · ang stæpe (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · sw hatua (nautical: framing in wood or iron which is intended to receive an upright shaft) · uz odim (pace) · gl chanzo (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · uz pogʻona (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · uk крок (proceeding; measure; action; act) · ist urma (footstep) · el σκαλί (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ja 足音 (manner of walking) · gv tesmad (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · yka tekang (pace) · sw hatua (music: interval between two contiguous degrees of the scale) · ar قِيَافَة (manner of walking) · da trit (pace) · es paso (manner of walking) · ru ступени раскладные (in the plural: portable framework of stairs) · pl drabinka (in the plural: portable framework of stairs) · pt andadura (manner of walking) · cs krok (pace) · ur قَدَم (pace) · bal قدم (pace) · enm stage (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · km កាំ (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · enm steppe (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · de Stufe (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · pl krok (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · pl drabka (in the plural: portable framework of stairs) · be прысту́пка (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ba йөрөш (manner of walking) · es providencia (proceeding; measure; action; act) · qu thatki (pace) · uz qadam (pace) · bg ход (proceeding; measure; action; act) · ja ひとまたぎ (small space or distance) · lv pakāpiens (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · pt etapa (proceeding; measure; action; act) · ar خُطْوَة (pace) · pt passo (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · sa पद (pace) · grc βαθμός (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ja 度 (music: interval between two contiguous degrees of the scale) · ko 단계 (proceeding; measure; action; act) · it passo (pace) · be крок (pace) · ca esglaó (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ru лестница (in the plural: portable framework of stairs) · yi שריט (pace) · pl krok (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · ru шаг (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · uk схо́динка (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · pt passo (proceeding; measure; action; act) · ca petjada (footstep) · sw hatua (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · nb skritt (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · fi tikkaat (in the plural: portable framework of stairs) · hi क़दम (pace) · bg стъ́пка (kinematics: change of position effected by a motion of translation) · ja 踏み台 (in the plural: portable framework of stairs) · th ก้าว (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · fi kannatinlaakeri (machinery: bearing in which the lower extremity of a spindle or a vertical shaft revolves) · pl drabina (in the plural: portable framework of stairs) · bg кра́чка (pace) · uk крок (small space or distance) · cs schod (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · gl pegada (footstep) · sl korak (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · fi askel (small space or distance) · fr étape (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · uk хода́ (manner of walking) · pl stopień (running board) · fi askelet (in the plural: walk; passage) · ky адым (pace) · grc ἴχνος (footstep) · id langkah (pace) · ps قدم (pace) · bg стъ́пка (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · uk крок (pace) · bal گام (pace) · sl korȃk (pace) · id langkah kaki (footstep) · la gradus (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · sc passu (pace) · hu lépés (pace) · lt žingsnis (pace) · ru подно́жка (running board) · sq hapat (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · ota باصامق (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · ru шаг (proceeding; measure; action; act) · fo fet (pace) · grc βάσις (pace) · ckb گاو (pace) · ru похо́дка (manner of walking) · fr pas (pace) · es medida (proceeding; measure; action; act) · es paso (footstep) · sl hoja (in the plural: walk; passage) · av гали (pace) · el βαθμίδα (music: interval between two contiguous degrees of the scale) · fo stig (pace) · tyz càm (pace) · vi bậc (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · sw hatua (in the plural: walk; passage) · sq hap (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · uz zinapoya (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · prs قَدَم (pace) · ug قەدەم (pace) · hi पद (pace) · el βηματισμός (manner of walking) · fi jalanjälki (footstep) · bg стъ́лби (in the plural: portable framework of stairs) · ro pas (proceeding; measure; action; act) · tt адым (pace) · de Sprosse (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ja 足跡 (footstep) · eo etapo (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · sq hapësira (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · ru шаг (small space or distance) · kw kamm (pace) · cy cam (pace) · pt pegada (footstep) · ae 𐬔𐬁𐬨𐬀𐬥 (pace) · ang stæpe (pace) · uk щабе́ль (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ca passa (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · sv fotspår (footstep) · ja 段 (running board) · de Schritt (pace) · ru стремянка (in the plural: portable framework of stairs) · jv jangkah (pace) · fi astinlauta (running board) · da trinbræt (running board) · ar مِشْيَة (manner of walking) · bg похо́дка (manner of walking) · ca passa (small space or distance) · th ฝีเท้า (footstep) · eo paŝado (pace) · hy քայլ (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · io grado (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · el χνάρι (footstep) · mn гишгүүр (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · bg стъ́пка (small space or distance) · ru ступе́нь (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · dlm puas (pace) · eo paŝo (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · ru шаг (pace) · ja 段階 (proceeding; measure; action; act) · be шаг (pace) · bg стъпа́ло (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ca passa (pace) · sw hatua (kinematics: change of position effected by a motion of translation) · pl krok (small space or distance) · sl stopinja (footstep) · sw hatua (machinery: bearing in which the lower extremity of a spindle or a vertical shaft revolves) · sh ко̏ра̄к (pace) · gl paso (pace) · eo paŝo (pace) · pl krok (pace) · sw hatua (proceeding; measure; action; act) · sq hecur (manner of walking) · ro pas (manner of walking) · ro pas (small space or distance) · ota آدیم (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · el διασκελισμός (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · pl ślad (footstep) · izh harkkamus (pace) · iba langkas (pace) · gl banzo (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ota باصامق (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · es paso (proceeding; measure; action; act) · vi bực (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · fa گام (pace) · ota مرتبه (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · mi kauwae (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · pl stopień (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · eo fazo (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · uk крок (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · pl kroczek (small space or distance) · lo ກ້າວ (pace) · ccc tepane (pace) · az addım (pace) · ja 足並み (manner of walking) · de Schritt (proceeding; measure; action; act) · ltg pakuopīņs (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · it passaggio (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · kmr gav (pace) · fi askel (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · fi jalusta (nautical: framing in wood or iron which is intended to receive an upright shaft) · ru ступе́нька (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · nb trin (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · cmn 步態 /步态 (manner of walking) · ar خَطْوَة (pace) · es peldaño (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · vec scalin (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ja 行程 (proceeding; measure; action; act) · sv fotsteg (footstep) · ru ступе́нь (music: interval between two contiguous degrees of the scale) · sv gångstil (manner of walking) · hy քայլ (small space or distance) · is þrep (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · eu fase (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · hu lépcsőfok (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ar خَطْوَة (footstep) · da skridt (proceeding; measure; action; act) · la passus (pace) · la gradus (pace) · fr étape (proceeding; measure; action; act) · fr marche (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · nl voetstap (footstep) · ba аҙым (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · ca pas (small space or distance) · sw hatua (in the plural: portable framework of stairs) · pt degrau (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · pl chód (manner of walking) · ru по́ступь (manner of walking) · da gang (manner of walking) · tk ädim (pace) · ba аҙым (proceeding; measure; action; act) · pl krok (manner of walking) · it fase (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · zza gam (diq) (pace) · enm steppe (footstep) · gl paso (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · sw hatua (machinery: one of a series of offsets, resembling the steps of stairs) · sq hap (footstep) · mi kaupeka (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · it stadio (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · ja 檣座 (nautical: framing in wood or iron which is intended to receive an upright shaft) · ba аҙым (manner of walking) · pt porte (manner of walking) · grc βαθμός (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · es escalón (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · sw hatua (footstep) · sv gång (manner of walking) · ro pas (footstep) · mi teka (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · my အလှမ်း (pace) · pl krok (proceeding; measure; action; act) · gv kesmad (pace) · ca pas (manner of walking) · sq hap (pace) · ota پایه (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · enm steppe (pace) · fi askel (pace) · iba langkah (pace) · bg кра́чка (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · ja ステップ (pace) · mk чекор (pace) · sv steg (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · ja 歩 (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · ba аҙым (pace) · enm steppe (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ro pas (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · is skref (pace) · io pazo (pace) · ba эҙ (footstep) · ko 단 (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · ja 行程 (in the plural: walk; passage) · sv steg (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · es etapa (proceeding; measure; action; act) · nl stap (pace) · mi upane (a distinct part of a process; stage; phase) · sw hatua (small space or distance) · ja 段 (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · sw hatua (manner of walking) · ja 歩き方 (manner of walking) · es paso (space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running) · it tappa (proceeding; measure; action; act) · fi askelet (manner of walking) · it scalino (one of a set of rests in a stair or ladder) · es paso (pace) · enm steppe (small space or distance) · arz خطوة (pace) · da fodspor (footstep)