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milestone

n. · v.
US //ˈmaɪɫˌstoʊn// UK //mˈaɪlstəʊn// mile·stone
  1. 1 important event (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    an important event or stage in the development of something, like a person's life or a project.

    a significant stage or event in the development of something; often used metaphorically for personal, historical, or professional progress.

    Example

    Learning to walk is a major milestone in a baby's development.

    Example

    The signing of the peace treaty represented a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries.
  2. 2 to plan steps (v.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Technical

    to plan a project by breaking it into several big, important steps.

    to schedule or structure a project according to a series of specific, measurable goals or stages.

    Example

    We need to milestone the software update to ensure we finish on time.

    Example

    The project manager decided to milestone the development phase to provide the stakeholders with clear evidence of incremental progress.

    Usage

    often used in project management contexts
Origin

From mile + stone. Compare Dutch mijlsteen (“milestone”), German Low German Mielensteen (“milestone”), German Meilenstein (“milestone”), Swedish milsten (“milestone”).

Word family

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