"stepping-stone" meaning in English

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "stepping-stones",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "stepping-stone (plural stepping-stones)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "stepping stone"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1960 November, P. Ransome-Wallis, “Modern motive power of the German Federal Railways: Part Three”, in Trains Illustrated, page 678",
          "text": "As I have said, it is not the intention of the Bundesbahn to use the diesel as a stepping-stone between steam and electric traction—a policy which, in the light of the excellent results obtained with modernised steam locomotives, it regards as uneconomical and unnecessary.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 January 13, Paul Clifton, “Delivering a basis for rail changes”, in RAIL, issue 922, page 32",
          "text": "\"Yes, it is much more Government-controlled now. That is a stepping-stone towards what we all want, which is the Government stepping away again.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of stepping stone"
      ],
      "id": "en-stepping-stone-en-noun-khdtxdMp",
      "links": [
        [
          "stepping stone",
          "stepping stone#English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "stepping-stone"
}

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "stepping-stones",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "stepping-stone (plural stepping-stones)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "alt_of": [
        {
          "word": "stepping stone"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English countable nouns",
        "English entries with incorrect language header",
        "English lemmas",
        "English multiword terms",
        "English nouns",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1960 November, P. Ransome-Wallis, “Modern motive power of the German Federal Railways: Part Three”, in Trains Illustrated, page 678",
          "text": "As I have said, it is not the intention of the Bundesbahn to use the diesel as a stepping-stone between steam and electric traction—a policy which, in the light of the excellent results obtained with modernised steam locomotives, it regards as uneconomical and unnecessary.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 January 13, Paul Clifton, “Delivering a basis for rail changes”, in RAIL, issue 922, page 32",
          "text": "\"Yes, it is much more Government-controlled now. That is a stepping-stone towards what we all want, which is the Government stepping away again.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of stepping stone"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "stepping stone",
          "stepping stone#English"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "stepping-stone"
}