Definition of

Step

StepThe various elements that make up a stair sector and that allow you to go down or climb it are called steps . The term is usually used as a synonym for step .

For example: “With a lot of effort, the man climbed step by step until he reached his bedroom,” “I had a few steps left to reach the floor when I slipped and ended up falling,” “The steps look a little flimsy, I think it's "It's better not to go up."

The steps, in short, are the sections of a staircase where the foot rests as it goes down or up. Suppose a person wants to climb a twenty-step staircase to a room on a higher level. To do this, rest your right foot on the first step and push yourself to rest your left foot on the second step; Then, the right foot goes to the third step, the left to the fourth step and so on.

There are different types of steps. They can be made with materials such as metal , wood or stone and have different shapes. In addition, they can be arranged in various ways depending on the characteristics of the staircase.

Beyond its meaning as one of the essential components of the ladder, this term also serves to refer to a portable product that can be used to reach places that are too high for the individual. In other words, it is a small bench , also known as a stool , or a staircase that has a single step.

In this context, steps are sold in various models, which can vary in their shape, in the materials used for their manufacture and in their performance. The cheapest ones are made only of rigid plastic; Although they are not as resistant as metal ones, they have the advantage of weighing less and being easier to transport.

Portable steps can also be foldable, a feature that makes it easier to transport larger and heavier ones, since their thickness is reduced to fit them in a closet or car, for example. Although the step may seem unnecessary with a normal ladder, its smaller size is ideal for placing it in small rooms or corners where there is not much room to maneuver.

StepIt should be noted that the idea of ​​a step is also used symbolically . In this framework, going down or up steps is usually associated with moving away or getting closer to an objective or modifying a position or status .

Suppose that a French first division team begins to negotiate with a Colombian club to hire one of its players. The player, faced with this situation, is excited about the pass since he thinks it would allow him to climb a step in his professional career : the French championship is considered stronger than the Colombian one, and in turn it would bring him closer to the best leagues in the world .

There are many expressions that serve to denote the idea of ​​approaching a goal one step at a time, although not all of them locate the path vertically. We can say that to get there we must advance "little by little", "with patience", "little by little", among other ways, and we are always referring to the fact that the movement towards the objective is slow but not for that useless reason, but rather that sooner or later we will arrive.

This word has more than one meaning, more than one meaning, and that is why it is considered polysemic . Other common examples of polysemy are the following: arm, heal, front, bridge and town. The opposite concept is monosemy . Just as in the case of step , it is normal that among the different meanings some literal ones are combined with other symbolic ones.