step

noun (STAGE)

/step/

Definition

B2 [C] a stage in a process: What's the next step in the programme? We must stay one step ahead of our competitors. Most people believe that the decision to cut interest rates was a step in the right direction. Let's take things a step/one step at a time (= slowly). Following the success of our products in Europe, our logical next step is to move into the American market.Stages and phases B2 [C] an action in a series of actions taken for a particular purpose: The country is taking its first tentative steps towards democracy. We need to take drastic steps to reduce pollution. The president took the unusual step of altering his prepared speech in order to condemn the terrorist attack.Acting and actsDealing with things or people step by step C1 dealing with one thing and then another thing in a fixed order: step-by-step instructions Don't worry - I'll go through the procedure with you step by step.Stages and phases

(Definition of step noun (STAGE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)