step

noun

/step/

Idioms

in series/process系列；过程

[countable] one of a series of things that you do in order to achieve something步骤；措施

We are taking steps to prevent pollution.我们正在采取措施防止污染。
It's a big step giving up your job and moving halfway across the world.你放弃工作搬到地球的另一端，可真不简单。
a necessary/an important/a positive step必要/重要/积极的一步
step toward(s) something This was a first step towards a united Europe.这是朝着统一的欧洲迈出的第一步。
This won't solve the problem but it's a step in the right direction.这虽不能解决问题，却是朝正确方向迈出的一步。
The new drug represents a major step forward in the treatment of the disease.这种新药代表着治疗这种疾病的一大进步。
Closing the factory would be a retrograde step.关闭工厂将是一种倒退。

Synonyms actionaction

measure
step
act
move

These are all words for a thing that somebody does.

action
a thing that somebody does:
- Can you explain your actions?你能解释一下你的行为吗？
measure
an official action that is done in order to achieve a particular aim:
- Tougher measures against racism are needed.需要更强硬的反种族主义措施。
step
one of a series of things that you do in order to achieve something:
- This was a first step towards a united Europe.这是向建立统一欧洲的目标迈出的第一步。
act
a thing that somebody does:
- an act of kindness善行

action or act?用 action 还是 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 the media) an action that you do or need to do to achieve something:
- They are waiting for the results of the opinion polls before deciding their next move.他们在等待民意测验的结果，然后再决定下一步行动。

Patterns

to take action/measures/steps
to make a step/move
a heroic/brave/daring action/step/act/move

movement/sound动作；声音

[countable] the act of lifting your foot and putting it down in order to walk or move somewhere; the sound this makes迈步；脚步声

a baby’s first steps婴儿学步
He took a step towards the door.他朝门口迈了一步。
We heard steps outside.我们听见外面有脚步声。

distance距离

[countable] the distance that you cover when you take a step一步（的距离）

It's only a few steps further.再走几步就到了。
He turned around and retraced his steps (= went back the way he had come).他转身原路往回走。
She moved a step closer to me.她朝我靠近一步。
(figurative) The hotel is only a short step (= a short distance) from the beach.旅馆离海滩只有几步路。

He'd only gone a few steps when he realized he'd left his keys behind.他刚走了几步，就意识到自己把钥匙落下了。
She was only a step away from the cliff edge.她离悬崖边只有一步之遥。
You might find your ticket if you retrace your steps back to the car.如果你原路折回到车子那儿，就有可能找到你的票。
Keep on moving—it's only a few steps further.继续往前走——只有几步路了。

Collocations Dictionaryadjective

large
small
heavy
…

verb + step

go
take
retrace
…

preposition

step (away) from
step towards/toward

phrases

a spring in your step
a step ahead
a step behind
…

stair台阶

enlarge image

[countable] a surface that you put your foot on in order to walk to a higher or lower level, especially one of a series台阶；梯级

She was sitting on the bottom step of the staircase.她正坐在最下面一级楼梯上。
We walked down some stone steps to the beach.我们走下几级石阶，来到海滩上。
A short flight of steps led up to the door.上几磴台阶就到了门口。

in dance舞蹈

[countable, usually plural] a series of movements that you make with your feet and which form a dance舞步

Do you know the steps of this dance?你知道这支舞的舞步吗？

Wordfinder

ballet
ballroom
band
choreograph
dance
floor
folk dance
music
partner
step

way of walking步履

[countable, usually singular] the way that somebody walks步伐；步态

He walked with a quick light step.他迈着轻快的步子走着。
There was a smile on her face and a spring in her step.她脸上带着微笑，脚步轻快。

I had a spring in my step when I walked into that office for the last time.我最后一次走进那间办公室时，步子迈得特别轻快。
There was a new spring in his step.他脚步轻盈，充满活力。

Collocations Dictionaryadjective

large
small
heavy
…

verb + step

go
take
retrace
…

preposition

step (away) from
step towards/toward

phrases

a spring in your step
a step ahead
a step behind
…

exercise健身运动

[uncountable] (often in compounds常构成复合词) a type of exercise that you do by stepping on and off a raised piece of equipment踏板操

step aerobics有氧踏板操
a step class踏板操训练班

Topics Health and Fitnessc1

ladder梯子

steps

[plural] (British English) a stepladder折梯；梯子

a pair of steps一架折梯
We need the steps to get into the attic.我们得踩着梯子才能爬到阁楼上去。

in music音乐

[countable] (North American English) the interval between two notes that are next to each other in a scale音级；度 compare semitone, tone see also half step, whole step

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

Idioms

break step

to change the way you are walking so that you do not walk in the same rhythm as the people you are walking or marching with走乱步伐
- The soldiers turned without once breaking step.士兵们毫不迟疑地转过身去。

fall into step (beside/with somebody)

to change the way you are walking so that you start walking in the same rhythm as the person you are walking with（和某人）合上步伐，步调一致起来
- He caught her up and fell into step beside her.他赶上她，跟着她的步子往前走。

in/out of step (with somebody/something)

putting your feet on the ground in the right/wrong way, according to the rhythm of the music or the people you are moving with（和某人）步伐一致（或不一致）；（和音乐）合拍（或不合拍）
- He was out of step with the music.他跟不上音乐的节奏。
- She had trouble keeping in step with the others.她跟不上其他人的舞步。
having ideas that are the same as or different from other people’s（和某人）想法一致（或不一致）
- She was out of step with her colleagues.她和同事们想法不一样。

mind/watch your step

to walk carefully走路小心
to behave in a careful and sensible way言行小心谨慎
- You’d better watch your step with him if you don’t want trouble.如果你不想惹麻烦，你最好小心和他在一起。

one step forward, two steps back

(saying) used to say that every time you make progress, something bad happens that means that the situation is worse than before进一步，退两步

a/one step ahead (of somebody/something)

when you are one step ahead of somebody/something, you manage to avoid them or to achieve something more quickly than they do避开（某人或某事物）；领先（某人或某事物）一步
- She's always one step ahead of the competition.她总是在竞争中领先一步。
Topics Successc2

a/one step at a time

when you do something one step at a time you do it slowly and gradually一步一步；逐步；按部就班

step

verb

/step/

[intransitive]

动词形式

present simple I / you / we / they step	/step/ /step/
he / she / it steps	/steps/ /steps/
past simple stepped	/stept/ /stept/
past participle stepped	/stept/ /stept/
-ing form stepping	/ˈstepɪŋ/ /ˈstepɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

+ adv./prep. to lift your foot and move it in a particular direction or put it on or in something; to move a short distance迈步；踩；踏；行走
- to step onto/off a bus上／下公共汽车
- I stepped forward when my name was called out.我听见叫我名字时向前迈了一步。
- She stepped aside to let them pass.她闪到一边让他们过去。
- We stepped carefully over the broken glass.我们小心翼翼地从碎玻璃上走了过去。
- I turned around quickly and stepped on his toes.我一个急转身，踩到了他的脚上。
- She opened the door and stepped out into the sunshine.她打开门，走到阳光下。
- (figurative) Going into the hotel is like stepping back in time.走进这家旅馆就像是回到了过去。
- Don't step in the puddle.别踩到水坑里。
- He stepped back hastily from the edge.他急忙从边上退了回来。
- He stepped gingerly over the cat.他小心翼翼地迈过了那只猫。
- Would you like to step inside for a few minutes?请你进来一会儿好吗？
- Could you step inside for a moment?你能进来一会儿吗？
- He stepped back into the shadows.他退回到阴影中。
- He stepped smartly aside to avoid her.他潇洒地闪开避开她。
- I accidentally stepped on her toe.我不小心踩到了她的脚。
- Myra stepped gingerly through the rows of plants.迈拉小心翼翼地穿过一排排植物。
- The boy had stepped out into the road without looking.男孩没看就走到了马路上。
- We had to step carefully to avoid the broken glass.我们不得不谨慎移动脚步以免踩上碎玻璃。
- Please step this way, Mr Jones.琼斯先生，请这边走。
- She stepped outside to discover it was snowing.她走到外面，发现正在下雪。
- I stepped away from the car, raising my hands.我从车里走出来，举起双手。
Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- briskly
- quickly
- hastily
- …
preposition
- across
- from
- in
- …
词源Old English stæpe, stepe (noun), stæppan, steppan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch steppen and German stapfen.

Idioms

step into the breach

to do somebody’s job or work when they are suddenly or unexpectedly unable to do it临时顶替某人工作；临时顶缺
- She stepped into the breach caused by Stella's illness.她介入了由斯特拉的病引起的裂口。

step into somebody’s shoes

to continue a job or the work that somebody else has started接替某人的工作
- She stepped into her father’s shoes when he retired.她父亲退休时，她接替了他的职位。

step on it

(informal) used especially in orders to tell somebody to drive faster（尤用以要求加速驾驶）开快点儿，赶快

step on somebody’s toes (North American English)

(also tread on somebody’s toes especially in British English)

(informal) to offend or annoy somebody, especially by getting involved in something that is their responsibility激怒，得罪，冒犯（尤指因插手他人职责）
- I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes so I’ll keep quiet.我不想冒犯任何人，所以我会保持安静。

step out of line | be/get out of line

to behave badly or break the rules表现不好；不守规矩；越轨；出格
- His boss warned him that if he stepped out of line once more he would be fired.他的老板警告他说，如果他再违反规定，他就会被解雇。

step up to the plate

(especially North American English) to do what is necessary in order to benefit from an opportunity or deal with a crisis开始行动，采取措施（以抓住机会或应对危机）
- It's important for world leaders to step up to the plate and honor their commitments on global warming.对世界领导人来说，重要的是开始行动，兑现他们在全球变暖问题上的承诺。
- It’s time for businesses to step up to the plate and accept responsibility.现在是企业站出来承担责任的时候了。