milestone — English Dictionary

Noun

1. 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.

2. An important event in a person's life or career, in the history of a nation, in the life of some project, etc.

   Usage

   • idiomatic

   Examples

   Death is another milestone on their way.

   Creating a complete map of the human connectome would therefore be a monumental milestone but not the end of the journey to understanding how our brains work.

   More examples (1)

   She bought the model as a surprise gift for a friend who is a lifelong HST fan and railwayman, and who will soon be celebrating a milestone birthday.

Verb

1. To place milestones along (a road, etc.).

2. To plan out a project as a series of major steps.

   Usage

   • idiomatic

Noun

1. stone post at side of a road to show distances

   Synonyms

   milepost

   Broader terms

   markermarkingmark

2. a significant event in your life (or in a project)

   Broader terms

   junctureoccasion