{
    "term": "step",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "image": "data/images/ho/house_2.png",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "one of a series of things that you do in order to achieve something",
            "sensetop": "step toward(s) something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "We are **taking steps** to prevent pollution."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's a **big step** giving up your job and moving halfway across the world."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**a necessary/an important/a positive step**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This was a first step towards a united Europe.",
                    "contextForm": "step toward(s) something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This won't solve the problem but it's **a step in the right direction**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new drug represents a major **step forward** in the treatment of the disease."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Closing the factory would be a retrograde step."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The talks mark a step towards peace."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They have taken their first tentative steps towards democracy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We've moved a step closer to independence."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The offer constitutes a considerable step forward."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This can only be seen as a step backward."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Greece moved a step closer to the final with last night's win."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I shall take immediate steps to have this matter put right."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We shall take all necessary steps to prevent public disorder."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new speed limit does not solve the problem, but it is a step in the right direction."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The new law is seen by many as a backward step."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The move was a first step in establishing a union."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is a crucial first step on the ladder of literary success."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They took the unusual step of taking out newspaper advertisements."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is a very positive step forward for everyone concerned."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The move represented a significant step forward for the young Canadian film industry."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We must take steps to ensure this won't happen again."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["big", "considerable", "giant"],
                "… of steps": ["number", "series"],
                "verb + step": ["go", "make", "take"],
                "preposition": ["step in", "step towards/​toward"],
                "phrases": [
                    "a step closer (to something)",
                    "a short step from something to something",
                    "a step back"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "one of a series of things that somebody does or that happen, which forms part of a process",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Having completed the first stage, you can move on to step 2."
                },
                {
                    "text": "If you follow all the steps, nothing will go wrong."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'd like to take this idea **a step further**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This was a big **step up** *(= to a better position)* in his career."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'll explain it to you **step by step**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a **step-by-step** guide to building your own home"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a step-by-step guide to setting up an aquarium"
                },
                {
                    "text": "If he goes one step further with this crazy idea, I'll resign."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The promotion was a big step up in his career."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's only a short step from disorder to complete chaos."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It suddenly struck her that having a baby was an irrevocable step."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What's the next step?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is an extremely important step in the certification process."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The next logical step was for the program leaders to work closely with existing staff."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is the first concrete step on the road to integration."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She went carefully through each step of the application process."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'll be with you every step of the way."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Building a business involves a series of important steps."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Good communication is vital at every step of the process."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["big", "considerable", "giant"],
                "… of steps": ["number", "series"],
                "verb + step": ["go", "make", "take"],
                "preposition": ["step in", "step towards/​toward"],
                "phrases": [
                    "a step closer (to something)",
                    "a short step from something to something",
                    "a step back"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "the act of lifting your foot and putting it down in order to walk or move somewhere; the sound this makes",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a baby’s first steps"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **took a step** towards the door."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We heard steps outside."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I could hear his steps coming closer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I recognized her quick light step."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He took a hesitant step towards her."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He lagged a few steps behind."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He grew fainter with every step."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I gasped and took an involuntary step back."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I quickened my step."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I was growing more and more nervous with every step."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Take two steps forward and one step back."
                },
                {
                    "text": "One false step could mean disaster."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["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"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "the distance that you cover when you take a step",
            "labels": "(figurative)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It's only a few steps further."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He turned around and **retraced his steps** *(= went back the way he had come)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She moved a step closer to me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The hotel is only a short step *(= a short distance)* from the beach."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He'd only gone a few steps when he realized he'd left his keys behind."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was only a step away from the cliff edge."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You might find your ticket if you retrace your steps back to the car."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Keep on moving—it's only a few steps further."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["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"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a surface that you put your foot on in order to walk to a higher or lower level, especially one of a series",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She was sitting on the bottom step of the staircase."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We walked down some stone steps to the beach."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A short **flight of steps** led up to the door."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She paused on the top step."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Mind the step!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She went up a flight of steps to the side entrance."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The front steps lead to an enormous terrace."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There are three steps down to the garden."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You have to go up four flights of steps to get up to the roof."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a pint of milk on the step outside."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Down a few steps from the entry is the main salon."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Crowds of visitors climbed the steep narrow steps to the top of the tower."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Houses and homes"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["front", "back", "porch"],
                "… of steps": ["flight"],
                "verb + steps": ["go up", "run up", "walk up"],
                "steps + verb": ["lead to something"],
                "preposition": ["step to", "step down to", "step up to"],
                "phrases": [
                    "the bottom of the steps",
                    "the foot of the steps",
                    "the top of the steps"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "a series of movements that you make with your feet and which form a dance",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Do you know the steps of this dance?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He executed some dance steps for the judges."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He executed some jive steps on the pavement."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["dance", "jive", "tango"],
                "verb + step": ["execute", "perform", "learn"],
                "preposition": ["in step", "out of step (with)"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "the way that somebody walks",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He walked with a quick light step."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a smile on her face and a spring in her step."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I had a spring in my step when I walked into that office for the last time."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a new spring in his step."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["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"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "a type of exercise that you do by stepping on and off a raised piece of equipment",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "step aerobics"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a step class"
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Health and Fitness"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 9,
            "definition": "a stepladder",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a pair of steps"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need the steps to get into the attic."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 10,
            "definition": "the interval between two notes that are next to each other in a scale",
            "labels": "(North American English)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "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",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The soldiers turned without once breaking step."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to change the way you are walking so that you start walking in the same rhythm as the person you are walking with",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He caught her up and fell into step beside her."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "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",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He was out of step with the music."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She had trouble keeping in step with the others."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "having ideas that are the same as or different from other people’s",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She was out of step with her colleagues."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to walk carefully",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to behave in a careful and sensible way",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You’d better watch your step with him if you don’t want trouble."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that every time you make progress, something bad happens that means that the situation is worse than before",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "when you are one step ahead of somebody/something, you manage to avoid them or to achieve something more quickly than they do",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She's always one step ahead of the competition."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Success"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "when you do something one step at a time you do it slowly and gradually",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/step/",
                "audio": "st/step/step__gb_3.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/step/",
                "audio": "st/step/step__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English stæpe, stepe (noun), stæppan, steppan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch steppen and German stapfen."
}