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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Stepping

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 about, handle roughly, stamp (?). Cf. Stamp, n. & a.]

  1. To move the foot in walking; to advance or recede by raising and moving one of the feet to another resting place, or by moving both feet in succession.

  2. To walk; to go on foot; esp., to walk a little distance; as, to step to one of the neighbors.

  3. To walk slowly, gravely, or resolutely.

    Home the swain retreats, His flock before him stepping to the fold.
    --Thomson.

  4. Fig.: To move mentally; to go in imagination. They are stepping almost three thousand years back into the remotest antiquity. --Pope. To step aside, to walk a little distance from the rest; to retire from company. To step forth, to move or come forth. To step in or To step into.

    1. 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.

    2. To enter for a short time; as, I just stepped into the house.

    3. To obtain possession without trouble; to enter upon easily or suddenly; as, to step into an estate. To step out.

      1. (Mil.) To increase the length, but not the rapidity, of the step, extending it to thirty-tree inches.

      2. To go out for a short distance or a short time.

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

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
stepping

early 14c., verbal noun from step (v.). Stepping stone first recorded early 14c.; in the figurative sense 1650s.

Wiktionary
stepping

n. The act of taking a step. vb. (present participle of step English)

WordNet
step
  1. n. any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal; "the situation called for strong measures"; "the police took steps to reduce crime" [syn: measure]

  2. the distance covered by a step; "he stepped off ten paces from the old tree and began to dig" [syn: footstep, pace, stride]

  3. the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down; "he walked with unsteady steps"

  4. support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway; "he paused on the bottom step" [syn: stair]

  5. relative position in a graded series; "always a step behind"; "subtle gradations in color"; "keep in step with the fashions" [syn: gradation]

  6. a short distance; "it's only a step to the drugstore" [syn: stone's throw]

  7. the sound of a step of someone walking; "he heard footsteps on the porch" [syn: footfall, footstep]

  8. a musical interval of two semitones [syn: tone, whole tone, whole step]

  9. a mark of a foot or shoe on a surface; "the police made casts of the footprints in the soft earth outside the window" [syn: footprint, footmark]

  10. a solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed

  11. a sequence of foot movements that make up a particular dance; "he taught them the waltz step" [syn: dance step]

  12. [also: stepping, stepped]

step
  1. v. shift or move by taking a step; "step back"

  2. put down or press the foot, place the foot; "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread"; "step on the brake" [syn: tread]

  3. cause (a computer) to execute a single command

  4. treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead" [syn: mistreat, maltreat, abuse, ill-use, ill-treat]

  5. furnish with steps; "The architect wants to step the terrace"

  6. move with one's feet in a specific manner; "step lively"

  7. walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner; "step over to the blackboard"

  8. place (a ship's mast) in its step

  9. measure (distances) by pacing; "step off ten yards" [syn: pace]

  10. 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"

  11. [also: stepping, stepped]

stepping

See step

Wikipedia
Stepping

Stepping may refer to:

  • Walking, one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals
Stepping (African-American)

Stepping or step-dancing is a form of percussive dance in which the participant's entire body is used as an instrument to produce complex rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps. Though stepping may be performed by an individual, it is generally performed by groups of three or more, often in arrangements that resemble military formations.

Stepping may also draw from elements of gymnastics, break dance, tap dance, march, or African and Caribbean dance, or include semi-dangerous stunts as a part of individual routines. The speed of the step depends on the beat and rhythm the performer wants it to sound. Some forms of stepping include the use of props, such as canes, rhythm sticks and/or fire and blindfolds.

The tradition of stepping is rooted within the competitive schoolyard song and dance rituals practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, beginning in the mid-1900s.

Usage examples of "stepping".

The persistent invaginator finally released her and walked up on her back before stepping off, then back on, several times, until foam ceased to surge from her mouth.

The newcomers followed her out of the room, the smaller stepping distastefully over the nearly absorbed remnants of her affliction.

A cluster of men waited at the pink doorway, stepping aside for Earthmen and Errin to pass.

He spoke the now familiar litany of close contact, hands on the door knob and stepping off on the right foot, then had them demonstrate it twice.

Leaving the Errin, he passed through the first green, stepping around the spill-over of bodies, and on into the second.

He let her strip the garment off his hips, simply stepping out of each leg as she lowered it.

On my count of three take two steps forward, stepping off with your right foot first.

By stepping through that surface one is instantly transported to my office, and .

But in a moment Alfred reappeared, stepping smartly, followed by Julie dressed sedately in blue gingham.

As he waived to Astoria before stepping into the gate, her expression was frustrated.

I held hat in hand, ready to cover my face if you should appear, which in fact you did, stepping out of the same office where I found you this morning.

We explored Gate Hall for a few minutes, even stepping outside on the grass and observing the strange line of tiny lights in the black sky above it.

June muttered, stepping back, slamming the door and immediately lunging through it.

The only difference is that they come in one of the large black cars such as that one before us, not by stepping through the gate.

He paused outside the chamber, stepping aside and gesturing for Akeela to enter.