word-vault

{ "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." }