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. 这项技术仍处於早期开发阶段。◆The product is at the design stage. 这一产品处於设计阶段。◆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。SYNstep