English Explanatory Dictionary

stepping stone

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creek.
  2. Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else.

Pronunciation

stĕpʹĭng-stōn′ /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stəʊn/ /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stoʊn/ /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stɐʉn/ En-au-stepping stone.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-stepping stone.wav

Word forms

stepping stone stepping stones stepping-stone steppingstone

Etymology

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

Synonyms

means way

Related words

milestone building block stumbling block

Translations

Bulgarian: основопола́гащ ка́мък Chinese Mandarin: 墊腳石 /垫脚石 Danish: trædesten Esperanto: travadoŝtono Finnish: askelkivi French: see pas japonais and gué German: Trittstein Icelandic: stiklur Indonesian: batu loncatan Italian: sasseto Italian: selciaia Italian: acciottolato Japanese: 飛び石 Polish: kamień do przechodzenia Portuguese: poldra Portuguese: pondra Portuguese: alpondra Russian: ка́мень, поло́женный для перехо́да Russian: ка́мень-присту́пка Scottish Gaelic: clacharan
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