1A small stool or stepladder used to stand on to reach high places.
棚の上の箱を取るときは踏み台に乗ってください。
Please stand on the stepladder to take the box from the top shelf.
子ども用の踏み台を洗面台の前に置いた。
I put a child-sized step stool in front of the sink.
脚立がないとき、古い本を踏み台代わりにした。
When there was no ladder, I used an old book as a makeshift step.
2A stepping stone — used metaphorically for something that serves as a means to advance or achieve the next goal.
そのアルバイトは彼にとって正社員になるための踏み台になった。
That part-time job became a stepping stone for him to become a full-time employee.
失敗を次のチャレンジの踏み台にしよう。
Let's use the failure as a stepping stone for the next challenge.