1. In an interconnected group of electronic or fiber optic circuits, such as those in a radio receiver or a fiber optic receiver, a point in the sequence of the circuitry that a signal must pass through. Note: Examples of stages are (a) in an amplifier, a step of amplification and (b) in a heterodyne radio receiver, the point at which the incoming signal is translated, i.e., converted, to an intermediate frequency. 2. One of the series of items connected in tandem, such as (a) one of the levels of amplification in an amplifier or (b) one of the flip-flops in a register or a ring counter. See junction stage. See also amplifier,  amplification,  circuit,  connection,  convert,  electronic,  fiber optic circuit,  fiber optic receiver,  fiber optic transmitter,  flip-flop,  frequency translation,  group,  heterodyne,  interconnection,  intermediate frequency,  level,  point,  radio receiver,  register,  ring counter,  series,  signal,  spurious response,  step,  tandem,  translation. Refer to Fig. B-2.