What does 'stepping stone' means?

Answer 1

In business, a "stepping stone" is a phase someone must go through to get to the level they wish to achieve. In "slice-of-life" circumstances, a "stepping stone" is a pebble or rock in a creek or a brook.

Answer 2

Gardeners and horticulturists often put stepping stones in a garden path. Someone taking a promenade through the garden is presumed to follow along the path using the stepping stones, especially in case of mud. The path itself is something of a protected place, surrounded by bushes, flowers, shrubs, vines--but the key factor is that the stepping stones follow a path to get through.

The image of the stepping stone has been taken as a metaphor, simile and analogy applying to life conditions when a path must be followed. Any step along the way--any change in status in a career where one is aiming in a particular direction--can be referred to a stepping stone. In fact, the idiom could be used in reference to pretty much anything that came before that leads up to what came after: girlfriends; promotions; drugs...

It's a useful term.

dictionary says:
stepping stone - a stone in a marsh or shallow water that can be stepped on in crossing
stepping stone - any means of advancement; "the job was just a stepping stone on his way to fame and riches"

Answer 3

people often have stepping stones leading up to their doors, they are large pieces (about a foot and a half across) of rock which are flat on the top

stepping stones can also be in a stream, you step on them so as not to get your feet wet

a stepping stone as slang is someone you step all over

a stepping stone is also a path to a higher level (like a preschool is a stepping stone for higher education) (a theatre summer camp is a stepping stone for broadway)

Answer 4

'Steppingstone' is a visible stone of appropriate size placed across a river or stream on which one would place his foot and cross over to the other side without getting his foot wet. (There could be many steppingstones necessary if the water's width is large.)
This means that a steppingstone is useful to take a step towards progress to the next level or achieve the goal. Hence a steppingstone is any activity (not necessarily a physical one) that enables one to crossover to the next point of the objective.