half step

• Mouvement ou action partiel ou réduit, utilisé notamment en musique (demi-ton), en danse (court pas) ou au sens figuré pour désigner une avancée incomplète ou prudente vers un objectif.

A small or partial movement, action, or change, often used in contexts like music (a semitone), dance (a short step), or figuratively to describe an incomplete or cautious advance toward a goal.

1. Musical intervalB2formal

   The smallest interval between two notes in Western music, equivalent to one semitone.

   Demi-ton

   • Moving from E to F is a half step on the piano.
   • The melody descends by a half step.
   • In a chromatic scale, every note is a half step apart.

2. Small or partial actionC1informalamerican

   A minor or incomplete action taken towards a larger goal.

   demi-mesure

   • The new policy is only a half step towards solving the problem.
   • They took a half step forward but then hesitated.
   • His apology felt like a half step, not a full commitment.