noun
step
stehp
noun
1
A single movement of the foot when walking, or one of a set of surfaces used to go up or down, as on a staircase.
"Watch your step on the icy pavement."
"He climbed the steps two at a time."
2
One stage in a process or sequence.
"The first step is to gather all the ingredients."
"Signing the contract was the final step in closing the deal."
verb
1
To move by lifting and placing one foot in front of the other.
"She stepped carefully over the puddle."
"He stepped outside to take the call."
How to Use Step
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA single movement forward with the foot, a stair, or one part of a larger process.
Common pairings
take a step
step by step
step forward
the next step
Word Forms
stepped past tense, stept past tense, stope past tense, steps plural, steps plural, steps singular
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Etymology
From Old English steppan, "to step, go, advance," related to the words "stamp" and "stomp."