preliminary stage
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preliminary stage
An earlier, not yet final phase in a development or process that comes before the actual or finished state. This can refer to abstract concepts, biological processes, or technical products.
Cholesterin ist eine Vorstufe für viele wichtige Hormone im Körper.
Cholesterol is a precursor for many important hormones in the body.
The word is made up of the preposition 'vor' (before) and the noun 'Stufe' (stage/step). So it literally describes a 'stage before' and is therefore easy to understand.
Eine gute Planung ist die Vorstufe zum Erfolg.
Good planning is the preliminary stage of success.
To say what something is a 'Vorstufe' (preliminary stage) of, you usually use the preposition 'von' with the dative or the genitive. The preposition 'zu' with the dative is also possible.
Diese Symptome können eine Vorstufe von einer ernsten Krankheit sein.
These symptoms can be a preliminary stage of a serious illness.
'Vorstufe' (preliminary stage) is used in many different fields. People speak of a preliminary stage of a disease (medicine), of a product (technology), or even of a conflict (politics).
Der erste Entwurf ist eine wichtige Vorstufe des fertigen Designs.
The first draft is an important preliminary stage of the finished design.
precursor
'der Vorläufer' and 'die Vorstufe' both describe something that comes before a later development. 'der Vorläufer' often means an earlier version of something, for example an older device or an earlier form of an idea. It can also be a sign that points to something in the future. 'die Vorstufe' is more likely to mean a phase in a process, that is, a step before the final state. Learners may confuse the words because both are temporally 'before' something else. As a guide: an old version is often a Vorläufer, while a development phase is more likely a Vorstufe.
Der Entwurf ist nur eine Vorstufe, bevor das fertige Produkt entsteht.
The draft is only a preliminary stage before the finished product is created.
Dieses einfache Modell gilt als Vorläufer des heutigen Smartphones.
This simple model is considered a precursor to today's smartphone.