English Reference
noun

stepping

n.
US /ˈstɛpɪŋ/ UK /stˈɛpɪŋ/ step·ping

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    the physical act of taking a step.

    the action of taking a step or the sound produced by it.

    Simple

    The stepping of the soldiers could be heard from a mile away.

    In context

    The rhythmic stepping of the marchers echoed through the narrow streets, creating a steady pulse that dominated the morning air.

    footfallstride
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a style of dance where you use your feet and hands to make loud, complex rhythms.

    a percussive dance form, primarily African-American, using the body as an instrument through footsteps, claps, and spoken word.

    Simple

    The university team won the national competition for stepping.

    In context

    The performance featured intricate stepping sequences that required perfect synchronisation between the twenty dancers on stage.

    step dance
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    a specific version or update of a computer's brain (the CPU).

    an iteration or revision level of a microprocessor design, often identifying fixed bugs or minor feature changes.

    Simple

    The new stepping of the processor runs much cooler than the first version.

    In context

    The system administrator checked the CPU stepping to ensure the hardware was compatible with the latest security patch for speculative execution vulnerabilities.


From Middle English steppynge; equivalent to step + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English steppynge
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated