step-down

[step-doun]

adjective

Electricity.

1. serving to reduce or decrease voltage.

   a step-down transformer.

step down

verb

1. (tr) to reduce gradually

2. informal,  (intr) to resign or abdicate (from a position)

3. informal,  (intr) to assume an inferior or less senior position

adjective

1. (of a transformer) reducing a high voltage applied to the primary winding to a lower voltage on the secondary winding Compare step up

2. decreasing or falling by stages

noun

1. informal,  a decrease in quantity or size

Word History and Origins

Origin of step down¹

First recorded in 1890–95; adj. use of verb phrase step down

Idioms and Phrases

Resign from office, as in He threatened to step down if they continued to argue with him . [Late 1800s]

Reduce, especially in stages, as in They were stepping down the voltage . [c. 1900] Also see step up , def. 1.

Related Words

• abandon 
• abdicate 
• bow out 
• drop out 
• leave 
• quit 
• retire 
• terminate