(pl. plateaux /-təʊz/ 或plateaus)
1- an area of fairly level high ground高原。
1.1
- figurative a state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress〈喻〉稳定期（活动期或发展期后变化很少或无变化的状态）：
the peace process had reached a plateau.
和平进程进入了稳定期。
1.2
- as modifier denoting a group of American Indian peoples of the high plains of western Canada and the US, including the Nez Percé高原印第安人（加拿大西部和美国高原地区的一支美洲印第安人, 包括内兹佩尔塞人）。
(plateaus, plateaued, plateauing)no obj.
- reach a state of little or no change after a time of activity or progress进入稳定期：
the industry's problems have plateaued out.
该行业的问题已经进入了稳定期。
词源
late 18th cent.: from French， from Old French platel, diminutive of plat 'level'.