English Explanatory Dictionary

milestone

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A stone milepost (or by extension in other materials), one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road at regular intervals, typically at the side of the road or in a median.
  2. An important event in a person's life or career, in the history of a nation, in the life of some project, etc.
verb
  1. To place milestones along (a road, etc.).
  2. To plan out a project as a series of major steps.

Pronunciation

/ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/ /ˈmaɪlstəʊn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-milestone.wav

Word forms

milestone milestones milestoning milestoned

Etymology

From mile + stone. Compare Dutch mijlsteen (“milestone”), German Low German Mielensteen (“milestone”), German Meilenstein (“milestone”), Swedish milsten (“milestone”).

Synonyms

landmark

Related words

mileage milemark mile marker milepole milepost game changer landmark watershed
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