1. (noun) measure, step
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
"the situation called for strong measures"; "the police took steps to reduce crime"
2. (noun) footstep, pace, step, stride
the distance covered by a step
"he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig"
3. (noun) step
the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down
"he walked with unsteady steps"
4. (noun) step, stair
support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway
"he paused on the bottom step"
5. (noun) gradation, step
relative position in a graded series
"always a step behind"; "subtle gradations in color"; "keep in step with the fashions"
6. (noun) step, stone's throw
a short distance
"it's only a step to the drugstore"
7. (noun) footfall, footstep, step
the sound of a step of someone walking
"he heard footsteps on the porch"
8. (noun) tone, whole tone, step, whole step
a musical interval of two semitones
9. (noun) footprint, footmark, step
a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface
"the police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window"
10. (noun) step
a solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed
11. (verb) dance step, step
a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance
"he taught them the waltz step"
12. (verb) step
shift or move by taking a step
"step back"
13. (verb) step, tread
put down or press the foot, place the foot
"For fools rush in where angels fear to tread"; "step on the brake"
14. (verb) step
cause (a computer) to execute a single command
15. (verb) mistreat, maltreat, abuse, ill-use, step, ill-treat
treat badly
"This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead"
16. (verb) step
furnish with steps
"The architect wants to step the terrace"
17. (verb) step
move with one's feet in a specific manner
"step lively"
18. (verb) step
walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner
"step over to the blackboard"
19. (verb) step
place (a ship's mast) in its step
20. (verb) pace, step
measure (distances) by pacing
"step off ten yards"
21. (verb) step
move or proceed as if by steps into a new situation
"She stepped into a life of luxury"; "he won't step into his father's footsteps"
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Definition of 'step' 
