Tra từ step - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

step [step steps stepped stepping] noun, verb BrE [step] NAmE [step]
noun

MOVEMENT/SOUND
1. countable the act of lifting your foot and putting it down in order to walk or move somewhere; the sound this makes
•a baby's first steps
• He took a step towards the door.
• We heard steps outside.
see also ↑footstep, ↑goose-step

WAY OF WALKING
2. countable, usually singular the way that sb walks
• He walked with a quick light step.
• There was a smile on her face and a spring in her step.

DISTANCE
3. countable the distance that you cover when you take a step
• It's only a few steps further.
• He turned around and retraced his steps (= went back the way he had come).
•She moved a step closer to me.
•The hotel is only a short step from the beach.

IN SERIES/PROCESS
4. countable one of a series of things that you do in order to achieve sth
• This was a first step towards a united Europe.
• It's a big step giving up your job and moving halfway across the world.
•We are taking steps to prevent pollution.
•This won't solve the problem but it's a step in the right direction.
•The new drug is a major step forward in the treatment of the disease.
•Closing the factory would be a retrograde step.
5. countable one of a series of things that sb does or that happen, which forms part of a process
Syn: ↑stage
• Having completed the first stage, you can move on to step 2.
• I'd like to take this idea a step further.
•This was a big step up (= to a better position) in his career.
•I'll explain it to you step by step.
•a step-by-step guide to building your own home

STAIR
6. countable a surface that you put your foot on in order to walk to a higher or lower level, especially one of a series
• She was sitting on the bottom step of the staircase.
• We walked down some stone steps to the beach.
•A short flight of steps led up to the door.

see also ↑doorstep

IN DANCE
7. countable, usually plural a series of movements that you make with your feet and which form a dance
•Do you know the steps of this dance?
see also ↑quickstep

EXERCISE
8. uncountable (often in compounds)a type of exercise that you do by stepping on and off a raised piece of equipment
•step aerobics
•a step class

LADDER
9. stepsplural (BrE)a ↑stepladder
•a pair of steps
•We need the steps to get into the attic.

IN MUSIC
10. countable (NAmE)the interval between two notes that are next to each other in a ↑scale
compare ↑tone (⁷), ↑semitone

Word Origin:
Old English stæpe, stepe (noun), stæppan, steppan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch steppen and German stapfen.

Thesaurus:
step noun
1. C
•I took a step forward.
pace • • stride • • footstep •
take a few steps/paces/strides (back/forward/to sth/towards sth)
take a step/pace (backwards)
hear (sb's) steps/footsteps
2. C
•This was a first step towards a united Europe.
move • • measure • • action • • act • • procedure • • gesture •
a/an step/move/measure/action/act/gesture by sb
make a step/move/gesture (towards sb)
take steps/measures/actions
3.
•I'll explain it step by step.
stage • • round •
the first/initial/preliminary/opening/second/final/last step/stage/round
successive steps/stages/rounds
a/an important/critical/crucial/key/difficult step/stage

Synonyms:
action
measure • step • act • move
These are all words for a thing that sb does.
action • a thing that sb does: ▪ Her quick action saved the child's life.
measure • an official action that is done in order to achieve a particular aim: ▪ Tougher measures against racism are needed.
step • one of a series of things that you do in order to achieve sth: ▪ This was a first step towards a united Europe.
act • a thing that sb does: ▪ an act of kindness
action or act?
These two words have the same meaning but are used in different patterns. An act is usually followed by of and/or used with an adjective. Action is not usually used with of but is often used with his, her, etc.: ▪ a heroic act of bravery ◇ a heroic action of bravery ◇ ▪ his heroic actions/acts during the war. Action often combines with take but act does not: We shall take whatever acts are necessary.
move • (used especially in journalism) an action that you do or need to do to achieve sth: ▪ They are waiting for the results of the opinion polls before deciding their next move.
to take action/measures/steps
to make a step/move
a heroic/brave/daring action/step/act/move

Example Bank:
•Greece moved a step closer to the final with last night's win.
•He executed some dance steps for the judges.
•He executed some jive steps on the pavement.
•He grew fainter with every step.
•He lagged a few steps behind.
•He took a hesitant step towards her.
•He was out of step with the music.
•He'd only gone a few steps when he realized he'd left his keys behind.
•I gasped and took an involuntary step back.
•I had a spring in my step when I walked into that office for the last time.
•I shall take immediate steps to have this matter put right.
•If he goes one step further with this crazy idea, I'll resign.
•If you follow all the steps, nothing will go wrong.
•It suddenly struck her that having a baby was an irrevocable step.
•It's only a short step from disorder to complete chaos.
•Mind the step!
•One false step could mean disaster.
•She had trouble keeping in step with the others.
•She paused on the top step.
•She was only a step away from the cliff edge.
•She went up a flight of steps to the side entrance.
•She's always one step ahead of the competition.
•The front steps lead to an enormous terrace.
•The move was a first step in establishing a union.
•The new law is seen by many as a backward step.
•The new speed limit does not solve the problem, but it is a step in the right direction.
•The offer constitutes a considerable step forward.
•The talks mark a step towards peace.
•There are three steps down to the garden.
•They have taken their first tentative steps towards democracy.
•This can only be seen as a step backward.
•We shall take all necessary steps to prevent public disorder.
•We've moved a step closer to independence.
•What's the next step?
•You have to go up four flights of steps to get up to the roof.
•You might find your ticket if you retrace your steps back to the car.
•a step-by-step guide to setting up an aquarium
•He turned and retraced his steps.
•I could hear his steps coming closer.
•I quickened my step.
•I recognized her quick light step.
•I was growing more and more nervous with every step.
•I'd like to take this idea a step further.
•I'll explain it to you step by step.
•Keep on moving— it's only a few steps further.
•Take two steps forward and one step back.
•The promotion was a big step up in his career.
•There was a new spring in his step.
•This won't solve the problem but it's a step in the right direction.
•What I need is a step-by-step guide to building your own home.
•the baby's first steps
Idioms: ↑break step ▪ ↑fall into step ▪ ↑in of step ▪ ↑mind your step ▪ ↑one step forward, two steps back ▪ ↑out of line ▪ step ahead ▪ step at a time ▪ ↑step into somebody's shoes ▪ ↑step into the breach ▪ ↑step on it ▪ ↑step on somebody's toes ▪ ↑step out of line ▪ ↑step up to the plate
Derived: ↑step back ▪ ↑step down ▪ ↑step forward ▪ ↑step in ▪ ↑step out ▪ ↑step something up ▪ ↑step up

verb (-pp-)intransitive + adv./prep.
to lift your foot and move it in a particular direction or put it on or in sth; to move a short distance
•to step onto/off a bus
•I stepped forward when my name was called out.
•She stepped aside to let them pass.
•We stepped carefully over the broken glass.
•I turned around quickly and stepped on his toes.
•She opened the door and stepped out into the sunshine.
• (figurative)Going into the hotel is like stepping back in time.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
Old English stæpe, stepe (noun), stæppan, steppan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch steppen and German stapfen.

Example Bank:
•Don't step in the puddle.
•He stepped back hastily from the edge.
•He stepped gingerly over the cat.
•Would you like to step inside for a few minutes?
•Could you step inside for a moment?
•He stepped back into the shadows.
•He stepped smartly aside to avoid her.
•I accidentally stepped on her toe.
•Myra stepped gingerly through the rows of plants.
•Step forward when your name is called out.
•The boy had stepped out into the road without looking.
•We had to step carefully to avoid the broken glass.