stage

1 /steIdZ/ noun

1 TIME/STATE (C) a particular time or state that something reaches as it grows or develops: The plan is still in its early stages. | the different stages of a child's development | at this stage: It would be unwise to comment at this stage of the negotiations. | stage by stage (=gradually) | at a later stage: The design may well be modified at a later stage.

—compare phase 1 (1), step 1 (4)

2 THEATRE (C) the raised floor in a theatre on which plays are performed: on stage: She is on stage for most of the play. | stage left/right (=from the left or right side of the stage)

3 acting the stage acting as a profession: go on the stage (=become an actor)

4 take centre stage/be at the centre of the stage to have everyone's attention, or to be very important: Sally just loves to take center stage. | The hostage question has returned to the centre of the stage.

5 PLACE (singular) a place where something important happens: Geneva has been the stage for many such conferences. | the European political stage

6 set the stage for to prepare for something or make something possible: Will this agreement merely set the stage for another war?

7 he's/she's going through a stage informal used to say that someone young will soon stop behaving badly or strangely

—see also: landing stage 2 verb (T) to organize an event that people will come to see, or that you hope many people will notice: We hope to stage four plays this season. | They'll be staging a Hockney exhibition. | stage a strike/demonstration/sit-in etc: School teachers are staging a protest against the cuts.