stepping stone

• stepping-stone
• steppingstone

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

• enPR: stĕpʹĭng-stōn′
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stəʊn/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stoʊn/
• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stɐʉn/

• Audio (General Australian):

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• Audio (US):

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stepping stone (plural stepping stones)

1. A stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creek.
   • 1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems:

     Falling—her veriest stepping-stone
     Shall form the pedestal of a throne— […]

   • 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 171, about Egton Bridge:

     Pretty stone cottages overlook the river's northern bank, and a short footpath 200 yds beyond the post office leads to stepping-stones.

2. (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.

   • 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto I”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:

     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.

   • 1957 November, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Manchester—3”, in Railway Magazine, page 764:

     It has already been shown that the Manchester South Junction & Altrincham (itself the joint property of the London & North Western and 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, […] .

• means
• way

• milestone

• building block
• stumbling block