stepping-stone

n (a) flat stone (usu one of several) providing a place to step on when crossing a stream, river, etc on foot （过河等用的）踏脚石. (b) (fig 比喻) means or stage of progress towards achieving or attaining sth 藉以达到目标的手段或阶段: a first stepping-stone on the path to success 通向成功的第一步.

stenographer, stenography, stentorian, step, step by step, step down, step forward, step in, step out, step up, step-, step-father, step-ladder, step-parent, stepbrother, `stepsister, stepchild, stepfather, stepfather, `stepmother, stepparent, steppe, stepson, `stepdaughter, stereo, stereo-, stereophonic, stereoscope, stereoscopic, stereotype, stereotyped, stereotyping, sterile, sterility, sterilization, sterilization, sterilisation, sterilize, sterilize, sterilise, sterling, stern, sternly, sternness, sternum,