the act of changing location by raising the foot and setting it down; "he walked with unsteady steps" support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway; "he paused on the bottom step" a solid block joined to the beams in which the heel of a ship's mast or capstan is fixed a short distance; "it's only a step to the drugstore" 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" place (a ship's mast) in its step shift or move by taking a step; "step back" put down or press the foot, place the foot; "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread"; "step on the brake" walk a short distance to a specified place or in a specified manner; "step over to the blackboard" move with one's feet in a specific manner; "step lively" furnish with steps; "The architect wants to step the terrace" cause (a computer) to execute a single command
to indicate that the person thus spoken of is not a blood relative, but is a relative by the marriage of a parent; as, a stepmother to X is the wife of the father of X, married by him after the death of the mother of X