[countable] a period or state that sth passes through as it develops发展时期；阶段；状态◆This technology is still in its early stages.这项技术仍处于早期开发阶段。◆The product is at the design stage.这一产品处于设计阶段。◆We have no plans to sell the company at this stage.在这个阶段我们没有出售公司的计划。◆The project has reached a critical stage.项目已经到了关键阶段。a separate part that a process, etc. is divided into步骤；段◆They have completed the first stage of the cost-cutting process.他们已经完成了成本削减过程的第一步。◆We can take the argument one stage further.我们可以把讨论再推进一步。◆The pay increase will be introduced in stages (= not all at once).加薪将分阶段进行。 SYN step early-stage