What is the meaning of step?

noun

• Any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal.
  • usage: "the situation called for strong measures"; "the police took steps to reduce crime"
  • synonyms: measure
• The distance covered by a step.
  • usage: "he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig"
  • synonyms: footstep, pace, stride
• The act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down.
  • usage: "he walked with unsteady steps"
• Support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway.
  • usage: "he paused on the bottom step"
  • synonyms: stair
• Relative position in a graded series.
  • usage: "always a step behind"; "subtle gradations in color"; "keep in step with the fashions"
  • synonyms: gradation
• A short distance.
  • usage: "it's only a step to the drugstore"
  • synonyms: stone's throw
• The sound of a step of someone walking.
  • usage: "he heard footsteps on the porch"
  • synonyms: footfall, footstep
• A musical interval of two semitones.
  • synonyms: tone, whole tone, whole step
• A mark of a foot or shoe on a surface.
  • usage: "the police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window"
  • synonyms: footprint, footmark
• A solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed.
• A sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance.
  • usage: "he taught them the waltz step"
  • synonyms: dance step

verb

• Shift or move by taking a step.
  • usage: "step back"
• Put down or press the foot, place the foot.
  • usage: "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread"; "step on the brake"
  • synonyms: tread
• Cause (a computer) to execute a single command.
• Treat badly.
  • usage: "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead"
  • synonyms: mistreat, maltreat, abuse, ill-use, ill-treat
• Furnish with steps.
  • usage: "The architect wants to step the terrace"
• Move with one's feet in a specific manner.
  • usage: "step lively"
• Walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner.
  • usage: "step over to the blackboard"
• Place (a ship's mast) in its step.
• Measure (distances) by pacing.
  • usage: "step off ten yards"
  • synonyms: pace
• Move or proceed as if by steps into a new situation.
  • usage: "She stepped into a life of luxury"; "he won't step into his father's footsteps"