Читаем Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

-stemmed /-stemd/ COMB [usu ADJ n] -stemmed is added to adjectives to form adjectives which indicate what the stem of something is like. □  …an enormous bouquet of long-stemmed roses.

stench /ste ntʃ/ (stenches ) N‑COUNT A stench is a strong and very unpleasant smell. □ [+ of ] The stench of burning rubber was overpowering.

sten|cil /ste ns ^ə l/ (stencils , stencilling , stencilled ) in AM, use stenciling , stenciled 1 N‑COUNT A stencil is a piece of paper, plastic, or metal which has a design cut out of it. You place the stencil on a surface and paint it so that paint goes through the holes and leaves a design on the surface.

2 VERB If you stencil a design or if you stencil a surface with a design, you put a design on a surface using a stencil. □ [V n + with ] He then stencilled the ceiling with a moon and stars motif. [Also V n]

ste|nog|ra|pher /stənɒ grəfə ^r / (stenographers ) N‑COUNT A stenographer is a person who types and writes shorthand, usually in an office. [AM ] in BRIT, use shorthand typist

sten|to|rian /stentɔː riən/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A stentorian voice is very loud and strong. [FORMAL ] □  He bellowed in a stentorian voice.

step ◆◆◆ /ste p/ (steps , stepping , stepped )

1 N‑COUNT If you take a step , you lift your foot and put it down in a different place, for example when you are walking. □  I took a step towards him. □  She walked on a few steps. □  He heard steps in the corridor.

2 VERB If you step on something or step in a particular direction, you put your foot on the thing or move your foot in that direction. □ [V prep/adv] This was the moment when Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on the Moon. □ [V prep/adv] She accidentally stepped on his foot on a crowded commuter train.

3 N‑COUNT Steps are a series of surfaces at increasing or decreasing heights, on which you put your feet in order to walk up or down to a different level. □  This little room was along a passage and down some steps. □  A flight of stone steps leads to the terrace.

4 N‑COUNT A step is a raised flat surface in front of a door. □  A little girl was sitting on the step of the end house.

5 → see also doorstep

6 N‑COUNT A step is one of a series of actions that you take in order to achieve something. □  He greeted the agreement as the first step towards peace. □  She is not content with her present lot and wishes to take steps to improve it.

7 N‑COUNT A step in a process is one of a series of stages. □  The next step is to put the theory into practice.

8 N‑COUNT The steps of a dance are the sequences of foot movements which make it up.

9 N‑SING Someone's step is the way they walk. □  He quickened his step.

10 PHRASE If you stay one step ahead of someone or something, you manage to achieve more than they do or avoid competition or danger from them. □  Successful travel is partly a matter of keeping one step ahead of the crowd.

11 PHRASE If people who are walking or dancing are in step , they are moving their feet forward at exactly the same time as each other. If they are out of step , their feet are moving forward at different times. □  They were almost the same height and they moved perfectly in step.

12 PHRASE If people are in step with each other, their ideas or opinions are the same. If they are out of step with each other, their ideas or opinions are different. □  Moscow is anxious to stay in step with Washington.

13 PHRASE If you tell someone to step on it , you are telling them to go faster or hurry up. [INFORMAL ] □  We've only got thirty-five minutes so step on it.