stepping stone
A stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creekA stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creek.
Meaning
2 sensesA stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creek.
a stone in a marsh or shallow water that can be stepped on in crossing
(idiomatic)Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else.
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.
Esperanto can make a good stepping stone language to Latin, which may be difficult for amateur linguists.
Sprungbrett, Trittstein
ступе́нькаstupénʹka, трампли́нtramplín, ста́ртовая площа́дкаstártovaja ploščádka
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
First attested circa 1325; first used in the figurative sense circa 1653.First attested circa 1325; first used in the figurative sense circa 1653.
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