Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

step

1. step \'step\ \-.li-k\ \'stept\ n [ME, fr. OE stpe; akin to OHG 
   stapfo step, stampfo-n] to stamp 1: a rest for the foot in ascending or 
   descending : as  1a: STAIR  1b: a ladder rung  2a1: an advance or movement 
   made by raising the foot and bringing it down e lsewhere 2a2: a combination 
   of foot or foot and body movements constituting a unit o r a repeated 
   pattern 2a3: manner of walking : STRIDE  2b: FOOTPRINT  2c: the sound of a 
   footstep  3a: the space passed over in one step  3b: a short distance  3c: 
   the height of one stair  pl  4: COURSE, WAY  5a: a degree, grade, or rank 
   in a scale  5b: a stage in a process  6: a frame on a ship designed to 
   receive an upright shaft; esp : a  block supporting the heel of a mast 7: 
   an action, proceeding, or measure often occurring as one in a series  8: 
   pace with another  9: a steplike offset or part usu. occurring in a series  
   10: a musical scale degree  - step.like aj
2. step vb or stepped;  or step.ping 1a: to move by raising the foot and 
   bringing it down elsewhere or by movin g each foot in succession 1b: DANCE  
   2a: to go on foot : WALK  obs  2b: ADVANCE, PROCEED  2c: DEPART  2d: to 
   move briskly  3: to press down with the foot  4: to come as if at a single 
   step  1: to take by moving the feet in succession {~ three paces}  2a: to 
   move (the foot) in any direction : SET  2b: to traverse on foot  3: to go 
   through the steps of : PERFORM  4: to erect by fixing the lower end in a 
   step  5: to measure by steps {~ off 50 yards}  6a: to provide with steps  
   6b: to make steps in {~ a key}  7: to construct or arrange in or as if in 
   steps