stage

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. platform, rostrum, scaffold; drama, theater; arena, field, scene; degree, step, phase; period, stretch, interval, span; stagecoach, diligence, omnibus. See support, vehicle, layer. — v. t. produce, present, put on; dramatize. See drama, preparation.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [The theater]

Syn. boards, scene, parascene, limelight*, spotlight*; see also drama 1 .

2. [A platform]

Syn. frame, scaffold, staging; see platform 1 .

3. [A level, period, or degree]

Syn. grade, plane, step; see degree 1 .

• by easy stages,

Syn. easily, gently, taking one's time*, one stop at a time; see slowly .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. platform rostrum, dais, *the boards, podium.

2. theater show business, *show biz, footlights, set, limelight, spotlight, Broadway. see theater

3. period phase, step, point in time, juncture, moment.

4. level grade, rung, position, echelon, status.

II

v.

present, exhibit, put on, perform, produce, arrange, engineer, mount, carry out.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. A raised platform on which theatrical performances are given: board (used in plural), proscenium. See PERFORMING ARTS. 2. The art and occupation of an actor: acting, dramatics. See ACTION, PERFORMING ARTS, SUBSTITUTE. 3. A temporary framework with a floor, used by workmen: platform, scaffold, scaffolding. See MACHINE. 4. The place where an action or event occurs: locale, scene, setting, site. See PLACE. 5. One of the units in a course, as on an ascending or descending scale: degree, grade, level, peg, point, rung, step. Informal: notch. See BIG. 6. An interval regarded as a distinct evolutionary or developmental unit: period, phase. See TIME. II verb 1. To produce on the stage: act (out), do, dramatize, enact, give, perform, present2, put on. See PERFORMING ARTS. 2. To organize and carry out (an activity): give, have, hold. See CONTROL, PLANNED.