Dictionary

stepping stone en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stəʊn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stɐʉn/ (New-Zealand)
• (US) audio
• stĕpʹĭng-stōn′
• /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stoʊn/ (General-American)

Etymology

First attested circa 1325; first used in the figurative sense circa 1653.

Meanings

1. A stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creek.
   • Pretty stone cottages overlook the river's northern bank, and a short footpath 200 yds beyond the post office leads to stepping-stones. 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 171, about Egton Bridge:
   • Falling—her veriest stepping-stone Shall form the pedestal of a throne— […] 1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems:
2. (idiomatic) Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else.
   • I held it truth, with him who sings ⁠To one clear harp in divers tones, ⁠That men may rise on stepping-stones Of their dead selves to higher things. 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto I”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
   • He was full of ambition, and force, and life, intending all sorts of great things, and meaning to make his position a stepping stone to all that was excellent in public life.
   • It has already been shown that the Manchester South Junction & Altrincham (itself the joint property of the London & North Western and the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railways) served as a stepping stone by which the M.S.L.R. and G.N.R. extended their services from Manchester to Liverpool, […]. 1957 November 14, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Manchester—3”, in Railway Magazine, page 764:
   • Esperanto can make a good stepping stone language to Latin, which may be difficult for amateur linguists.

Forms

Relateds

building block · stumbling block · milestone

Synonyms

means · way

Translations (46)

pt poldra (stone used to cross something) · pt alpondra (stone used to cross something) · fi astinlauta (something used as a way to progress) · pl kamień milowy (something used as a way to progress) · is stökkpallur (something used as a way to progress) · eo travadoŝtono (stone used to cross something) · cmn 墊腳石 /垫脚石 (something used as a way to progress) · da trædesten (stone used to cross something) · it viatico (something used as a way to progress) · de Sprungbrett (something used as a way to progress) · eo travadoŝtono (something used as a way to progress) · ru трампли́н (something used as a way to progress) · bg основопола́гащ ка́мък (stone used to cross something) · gd clacharan (stone used to cross something) · fr see pas japonais and gué (stone used to cross something) · ru ста́ртовая площа́дка (something used as a way to progress) · he מַקְפֵּצָה (something used as a way to progress) · es trampolín (something used as a way to progress) · fi askelkivi (stone used to cross something) · hu ugródeszka (something used as a way to progress) · id batu loncatan (stone used to cross something) · fr marchepied (something used as a way to progress) · da springbræt (something used as a way to progress) · id batu loncatan (something used as a way to progress) · pl kamień do przechodzenia (stone used to cross something) · de Trittstein (stone used to cross something) · it acciottolato (stone used to cross something) · it sasseto (stone used to cross something) · it trampolino (something used as a way to progress) · fr tremplin (something used as a way to progress) · tl batong-tuntungan (something used as a way to progress) · it selciaia (stone used to cross something) · da trædesten (something used as a way to progress) · fr palier (something used as a way to progress) · ja 飛び石 (stone used to cross something) · cmn 墊腳石 /垫脚石 (stone used to cross something) · sv språngbräda (something used as a way to progress) · pt trampolim (something used as a way to progress) · ru плацда́рм (something used as a way to progress) · ru ка́мень-присту́пка (stone used to cross something) · it trampolino di lancio (something used as a way to progress) · fi ponnahduslauta (something used as a way to progress) · ru ступе́нька (something used as a way to progress) · pt pondra (stone used to cross something) · is stiklur (stone used to cross something) · ru ка́мень, поло́женный для перехо́да (stone used to cross something)