step

step
{{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}}
noun
1 in walking, running, etc.
ADJECTIVE
large, small
heavy, light
quick, slow
hesitant
involuntary

I gasped and took an involuntary step back.

careful
shaky, unsteady
VERB + STEP
go, take

He'd only gone a few steps when he realized he'd left his keys behind.

retrace

You might find your ticket if you retrace your steps back to the car.

PREPOSITION
step (away) from

She was only a step away from the cliff edge.

step towards/toward

He took a hesitant step towards/toward her.

PHRASES
a spring in your step

I had a spring in my step when I walked into that office for the last time.

a step ahead, a step behind (both often figurative)

He lagged a few steps behind.

She's always one step ahead of the competition.

a step back, a step backwards/backward
a step forward
a step sideways
a step closer

We've moved a step closer to independence.

with each step, with every step

He grew fainter with every step.

2 in dancing
ADJECTIVE
dance
jive, tango, etc.
VERB + STEP
execute, perform

He executed some dance steps for the judges.

learn
keep in

She had trouble keeping in step with the others.

PREPOSITION
in step, out of step (with)

He was out of step with the music.

3 action taken in order to achieve sth
ADJECTIVE
big, considerable, giant, huge, massive (esp. BrE)
small
critical, crucial, decisive, essential, great, historic, important, key, major, significant, vital
first, initial, preliminary
final, last
additional, extra, further, next

What's the next step?

logical, necessary, reasonable

We shall take all necessary steps to prevent public disorder.

active
forward, positive
backward, retrograde (esp. BrE)

The new law is seen by many as a backward step.

bold, brave
dramatic, drastic, extraordinary, rare, unprecedented, unusual
irreversible, irrevocable

It suddenly struck her that having a baby was an irrevocable step.

careful, precautionary
faltering, tentative

They have taken their first tentative steps towards/toward democracy.

practical
welcome
immediate, urgent

I shall take immediate steps to have this matter put right.

false

One false step could mean disaster.

… OF STEPS
number, series
VERB + STEP
go, make, take
follow

If you follow all the steps, nothing will go wrong.

PREPOSITION
step in

The move was a first step in establishing a union.

step towards/toward

The talks mark a step towards/toward peace.

PHRASES
a step closer (to sth)

Greece moved a step closer to the final with last night's win.

a short step from sth to sth

It's only a short step from disorder to complete chaos.

a step back, a step backwards/backward

This can only be seen as a step backward.

a step forward

The offer constitutes a considerable step forward.

We seemed to be taking three steps forward and one step back.

step by step

a step-by-step guide to setting up an aquarium

a step further

If he goes one step further with this crazy idea, I'll resign.

a step in the right direction

The new speed limit does not solve the problem, but it is a step in the right direction.

a step on the road to sth, a step on the way to sth
4 on stairs, a ladder, etc.
ADJECTIVE
bottom, top
door (usually doorstep)
VERB + STEP
mind (esp. BrE)

Mind the step!

PREPOSITION
on a/the step

She paused on the top step.

PHRASES
a step down, a step up

There are three steps down to the kitchen.

5 steps set of steps
ADJECTIVE
front
back
porch (esp. AmE)
concrete, marble, wooden, etc.
… OF STEPS
flight

You have to go up four flights of steps to get up to the roof.

VERB + STEPS
go up, run up, walk up

She went up the steps to the side entrance.

ascend, climb, mount
descend
go down, run down, walk down
sit on
STEPS + VERB
lead to sth

The front steps lead to an enormous terrace.

PREPOSITION
step to

the steps to the roof

step down to, step up to

the steps down to the pool

PHRASES
the bottom of the steps, the foot of the steps, the top of the steps
{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}
verb
ADVERB
briskly, quickly
hastily, smartly (esp. BrE)

He stepped back hastily from the edge.

slowly
quietly, silently
delicately, lightly
carefully, cautiously, gingerly

He stepped gingerly over the cat.

boldly
aside, away, back, backwards/backward, close, down, forth (esp. AmE), forward, inside, out, outside, up

Would you like to step inside for a few minutes?

PREPOSITION
across, from, in, in front of, into, on, onto, out of, over, towards/toward

Don't step in the puddle.


Collocations dictionary. 2013.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • step — [step] n. [ME steppe < OE stepe, akin to Ger stapf < IE base * steb(h) , post (> STAMP): basic sense “to stamp feet”] 1. the act of moving and placing the foot forward, backward, sideways, up, or down, as in walking, dancing, or climbing …   English World dictionary

  • Step 7 — ist die aktuelle Programmiersoftware der Simatic S7 SPS Familie der Firma Siemens AG und ist der Nachfolger von Step 5. Step 7 beherrscht in der Basisversion folgende nach der DIN EN 61131 3 genormten Programmiersprachen: FBS… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • step*/*/*/ — [step] noun [C] I 1) a movement made by putting one foot in front of the other, or the sound that your feet make while you are walking I could hear the steps coming closer.[/ex] The postbox is just a few steps from my front door.[/ex] Tom took a… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • step — ► NOUN 1) an act of lifting and setting down the foot or alternate feet, as in walking. 2) the distance covered by a step. 3) informal a short and easily walked distance. 4) a flat surface on which to place one s foot when moving from one level… …   English terms dictionary

  • Step — Step, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Stepped}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stepping}.] [AS. st[ae]ppan; akin to OFries. steppa, D. stappen to step, stap a step, OHG. stepfen to step, G. stapfe a footstep, OHG. stapfo, G. stufe a step to step on; cf. Gr. ? to shake… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Step — simulando un sistema a base de gasolina. Desarrollador …   Wikipedia Español

  • Step — Step, n. [AS. st[ae]pe. See {Step}, v. i.] 1. An advance or movement made by one removal of the foot; a pace. [1913 Webster] 2. A rest, or one of a set of rests, for the foot in ascending or descending, as a stair, or a round of a ladder. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • StEP — steht für: Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle Sixth Term Examination Paper Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, ein Berufsverband Stadtentsorgung Potsdam Standard for the exchange of product model data, ein CAD Datenformat nach ISO …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Step NC — La chaine numérique actuelle simplifiée Le STEP NC (STEP compliant Numerical Command) est un standard d’échange de données pour la programmation de commande numérique. Il est basé sur le standard STEP (STandard for the Exchange of Product model… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Step 5 — ist eine Programmiersoftware für die speicherprogrammierbaren Steuerungen Simatic S5 von Siemens. Siemens hat diese Software am 1. Oktober 2005 abgekündigt, da die Simatic S5 nicht mehr weiterentwickelt wird. Nachfolgesteuerung ist die Simatic S7 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • step on it — or[step on the gas] {v. phr.} 1. To push down on the gas pedal to make a car go faster. * /Be very careful when you step on the gas. Don t go too fast./ Compare: GIVE IT THE GUN. 2. {informal} To go faster; hurry. * /Step on it, or we ll be late… …   Dictionary of American idioms

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