noun, verb — 4 senses
US /ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn/ · UK /ˈmaɪlstəʊn/
Etymology From mile + stone. Compare Dutch mijlsteen (“milestone”), German Low German Mielensteen (“milestone”), German Meilenstein (“milestone”), Swedish milsten (“milestone”).
A stone milepost (or by extension in other materials), one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road at regular intervals, typically at the side of the road or in a median.
Idiomatic An important event in a person's life or career, in the history of a nation, in the life of some project, etc.
Etymology From mile + stone. Compare Dutch mijlsteen (“milestone”), German Low German Mielensteen (“milestone”), German Meilenstein (“milestone”), Swedish milsten (“milestone”).
To place milestones along (a road, etc.).
Idiomatic To plan out a project as a series of major steps.
Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.