In the meantime, there have been partial steps, ones that have made only a limited difference.

One tumbled to the floor, caught in midshuffle, rather than take that last partial step.

But she added: "The international community will not be satisfied with partial steps.

As a partial step to broaden a physician's education, some students may study the humanities during medical school.

"There are partial decisions or partial steps, but no central clear decision supporting reform."

The G.A.O. study addresses only a partial step toward a solution.

An increasing number of grain farmers, according to the Agriculture Department, are taking the partial step of signing forward contracts.

And let's take a partial step in this direction.

"It is a partial victory, a partial step forward."

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts called the president's plan "only a partial step - inadequate to the challenge."