step : Idioms & Phrases

• (Mil.), the retrograde movement of a man or body of men, without changing front.

Webster 1913

• etc. See under Back, Half, etc.

Webster 1913

Bed" steps`

Definitions

1. Steps for mounting a bed of unusual height.

Webster 1913

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

WordNet

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

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

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• noun a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance
  step.
  
  • he taught them the waltz step

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• noun the first of a series of actions
  opening move; initiative; opening.
  

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• noun a stairway (set of steps) between one floor or landing and the next
  flight of stairs; flight.
  

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• noun a manner of marching with legs straight and swinging high
  
• verb march in a military fashion
  

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• noun the musical interval between adjacent keys on a keyboard instrument
  semitone.
  

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• (Mus.), a semitone; the smallest difference of pitch or interval, used in music.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite having or moving with a high step
  high-stepped.
  
  • his high-stepped stride
  • a high-stepping horse

WordNet

• adjective satellite having or moving with a high step
  high-stepped.
  
  • his high-stepped stride
  • a high-stepping horse

WordNet

• a game or athletic sport in which the participants cover as much ground as possible by a hop, stride, and jump in succession.

Webster 1913

• noun an athletic contest in which a competitor must perform successively a hop and a step and a jump in continuous movement
  triple jump.
  

WordNet

• verb maintain the same pace
  keep pace.
  
  • The child cannot keep step with his big brother

WordNet

Lock" step`

Definitions

1. . A mode of marching by a body of men going one after another as closely as possible, in which the leg of each moves at the same time with the corresponding leg of the person before him.

Webster 1913

• (Mil.), a step in marching, by which the soldier, while advancing, gradually takes ground to the right or left at an angle of about 25°. It is not now practiced. Wilhelm.

Webster 1913

• noun an early ballroom dance; precursor to the fox-trot
  
• verb dance the one-step
  

WordNet

• noun (nautical) ladder to be lowered over a ship's side for coming aboard
  sea ladder.
  

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• adverb in a gradual manner
  gradually; bit by bit.
  
  • the snake moved gradually toward its victim
• adverb proceeding in steps
  stepwise.
  
  • the voltage was increased stepwise

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• noun dancing in which the steps are more important than gestures or postures
  hoofing.
  

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• verb give up or retire from a position
  quit; leave office; resign.
  
  • The Secretary of the Navy will leave office next month
  • The chairman resigned over the financial scandal
• verb reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of
  de-escalate; weaken.
  
  • de-escalate a crisis

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• verb make oneself visible; take action
  step forward; step to the fore; come to the fore; come forward; come out.
  
  • Young people should step to the fore and help their peers

WordNet

• a form of grate for holding fuel, in which the bars rise above one another in the manner of steps.

Webster 1913

• verb get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
  intervene; interpose; interfere.
  
  • Why did the U.S. not intervene earlier in WW II?
• verb act as a substitute
  deputize; substitute; deputise.
  
  • She stood in for the soprano who suffered from a cold

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• noun a folding portable ladder hinged at the top
  stepladder.
  

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• verb place or press the foot on
  tread on.
  
  • He stepped on the hem of her long gown

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• verb move fast
  rush; bucket along; hotfoot; belt along; cannonball along; race; hie; hasten; speed; pelt along; rush along.
  
  • He rushed down the hall to receive his guests
  • The cars raced down the street

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• verb go outside a room or building for a short period of time
  

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• noun a rocket having two or more rocket engines (each with its own fuel) that are fired in succession and jettisoned when the fuel is exhausted
  multistage rocket.
  

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• noun a stool that has one or two steps that fold under the seat
  

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• verb make oneself visible; take action
  step forward; step to the fore; come to the fore; come forward; come out.
  
  • Young people should step to the fore and help their peers

WordNet

• verb increase in extent or intensity
  escalate; intensify.
  
  • The Allies escalated the bombing
• verb speed up
  rev up.
  
  • let's rev up production
• verb make oneself visible; take action
  step forward; step to the fore; come to the fore; come forward; come out.
  
  • Young people should step to the fore and help their peers

WordNet

Step-

Etymology

AS. steóp-; akin to OFries. stiap-, stiep-, D. & G. stief-, OHG. stiuf-, Icel. stjp-, Sw. styf-, and to AS. astepan, asteópan, to deprive, bereave, as children of their parents, OHG. stiufen.

Definitions

1. A prefix used before father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, child, etc., to indicate that the person thus spoken of is not a blood relative, but is a relative by the marriage of a parent; as, a stepmother to X is the wife of the father of X, married by him after the death of the mother of X. See Stepchild, Stepdaughter, Stepson, etc.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite one thing at a time
  stepwise; in small stages; bit-by-bit; piecemeal.
  

WordNet

• noun the act of decreasing or reducing something
  diminution; reduction; decrease.
  

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• noun a transformer that reduces voltage
  

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• noun short underpants for women or children (usually used in the plural)
  scanty; pantie; panty.
  

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• noun the act of increasing something
  increase.
  
  • he gave me an increase in salary

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• noun a transformer that increases voltage
  

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• noun a headline with the top line flush left and succeeding lines indented to the right
  stagger head; staggered head; drop line; stephead; dropline.
  

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• noun a formal resignation and renunciation of powers
  abdication.
  
• noun the act of abdicating
  abdication.
  

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• noun a motor (especially an electric motor) that moves or rotates in small discrete steps
  stepper.
  

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• noun a stone in a marsh or shallow water that can be stepped on in crossing
  
• noun any means of advancement
  
  • the job was just a stepping stone on his way to fame and riches

WordNet

Step"ping-stone` noun

Definitions

1. A stone to raise the feet above the surface of water or mud in walking.
2. Fig.: A means of progress or advancement.

   These obstacles his genius had turned into stepping-stones. Macaulay.

   That men may rise on stepping-stones Of their dead selves to higher things. Tennyson.

Webster 1913

• to take a break in the regular succession of steps, in marching or walking, as by bringing the hollow of one foot against the heel of the other, and then stepping off with the foot which is in advance.

Webster 1913

• to walk a little distance from the rest; to retire from company.

Webster 1913

• to move or come forth.

Webster 1913

• . (a) To walk or advance into a place or state, or to advance suddenly in.

  Whosoever then first, after the troubling of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. John v. 4.

  (b) To enter for a short time; as, I just stepped into the house. (c) To obtain possession without trouble; to enter upon easily or suddenly; as, to step into an estate .

Webster 1913

• to measure by steps, or paces; hence, to divide, as a space, or to form a series of marks, by successive measurements, as with dividers.

Webster 1913

• . (a) (Mil.) To increase the length, but not the rapidity, of the step, extending it to thirty-tree inches. (b) To go out for a short distance or a short time .

Webster 1913

• (Mil.), to diminish the length or rapidity of the step according to the established rules.

Webster 1913

• to take action; to move in a matter.

Webster 1913

• noun a ballroom dance in duple meter; marked by sliding steps
  
• verb dance the two-step
  

WordNet

• noun a musical interval of two semitones
  step; tone; whole tone.
  

WordNet