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2 : an advance made by raising one foot and putting it down elsewhere

3 : manner of walking

4 : a small space or distance

5 : a degree, rank, or plane in a series

6 : a sequential measure leading to a result

Synonyms

expedient, measure, move, shift—more at MEASURE

cut, degree, grade, inch, notch, peg, phase, point, stage—more at DEGREE

2step verb stepped; step·ping 1 : to advance or recede by steps

2 : to go on foot : WALK

3 : to move along briskly

4 : to press down with the foot

5 : to measure by steps

6 : to construct or arrange in or as if in steps

7 : to engage in or perform a dance

Synonyms

foot, leg, pad, traipse, tread, walk—more at WALK

step aerobics noun singular or plural : aerobics that involves repeatedly stepping on and off a raised platform

step·broth·er noun : the son of one's stepparent by a former marriage

step·child noun : a child of one's husband or wife by a former marriage

step·daugh·ter noun : a daughter of one's wife or husband by a former marriage

step down verb 1 : to give up deliberately : RETIRE, RESIGN

2 : to lower (a voltage) by means of a transformer

Synonyms

usually step down from leave, quit, resign, retire—more at QUIT

usually step down from abdicate, abnegate, cede, relinquish, renounce, resign, surrender—more at ABDICATE

step·fa·ther noun : the husband of one's mother when distinct from one's natural or legal father

step·lad·der noun : a light portable set of steps in a hinged frame

step·moth·er noun : the wife of one's father when distinct from one's natural or legal mother

step·par·ent noun : a person who is a stepfather or stepmother

steppe noun [ORIGIN: Russ step']

: dry level grass-covered treeless land in regions of wide temperature range esp. in southeastern Europe and Asia

Synonyms

down, grassland, plain, prairie, savanna, veld—more at PLAIN

step·sis·ter noun : the daughter of one's stepparent by a former marriage

step·son noun : a son of one's wife or husband by a former marriage

step up verb 1 : to increase (a voltage) by means of a transformer

2 : to increase, augment, or advance esp. by one or more steps

3 : to come forward

— step–up noun

Synonyms

amplify, beef, boost, consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, redouble, strengthen—more at INTENSIFY

ster abbreviation sterling

ste·reo noun, plural ste·re·os 1 : stereophonic reproduction

2 : a stereophonic sound system

— stereo adjective

ste·reo·phon·ic adjective : of or relating to sound reproduction designed to create the effect of listening to the original

— ste·reo·phon·i·cal·ly adverb

ster·e·o·scope noun [ORIGIN: Gk stereos solid + -skopion means for viewing]

: an optical instrument that blends two slightly different pictures of the same subject to give the effect of depth

ste·reo·scop·ic adjective 1 : of or relating to the stereoscope

2 : characterized by the seeing of objects in three dimensions <~ vision>

— ste·reo·scop·i·cal·ly adverb

— ste·re·os·co·py noun

ste·reo·type noun 1 : a metal printing plate cast from a mold made from set type

2 : something agreeing with a pattern; especially : an idea that many people have about a thing or a group and that may often be untrue or only partly true

— stereotype verb

— ste·reo·typ·i·cal adjective

— ste·reo·typ·i·cal·ly adverb

Synonyms

aphorism, generality, generalization, maxim—more at GENERALIZATION

ste·reo·typed adjective : lacking originality or individuality

Synonyms

banal, commonplace, hackneyed, musty, stale, threadbare, tired, trite—more at STALE

ster·ile adjective 1 : unable to bear fruit, crops, or offspring

2 : free from living things and esp. germs

— ste·ril·i·ty noun

Synonyms

[1] barren, impotent, infertile; also altered, neutered; castrated, emasculated, gelded; spayed; fruitless, unproductive

Antonyms

fat, fertile, fruitful

[2] aseptic, hygienic, sanitary—more at SANITARY

ster·il·ize verb -ized; -iz·ing : to make