steppingstone: Meaning and Definition of

step•ping•stone

Pronunciation: (step'ing-stōn"), [key]
— n.
  1. a stone, or one of a line of stones, in shallow water, a marshy place, or the like, that is stepped on in crossing.
  2. a stone for use in mounting or ascending.
  3. any means or stage of advancement or improvement: She looked on the governorship as a steppingstone to the presidency.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.