stay
noun
- 1
Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time; sojourn.
“I hope you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii.”
- 2
A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
“The governor granted a stay of execution.”
- 3
A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.
“stand at a stay”
- 4
A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.
- 5
A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.
- 6
Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
- 7
Hindrance; let; check.
verb
- 1
To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
- 2
To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
- 3
To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.
- 4
To restrain; withhold; check; stop.
- 5
To cause to cease; to put an end to.
- 6
To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.
“The governor stayed the execution until the appeal could be heard.”
- 7
To hold the attention of.
- 8
To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.
- 9
To wait for; await.
- 10
To remain for the purpose of; to stay to take part in or be present at (a meal, ceremony etc.).
- 11
To rest; depend; rely.
- 12
To stop; come to a stand or standstill.
- 13
To come to an end; cease.
“That day the storm stayed.”
- 14
To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.
- 15
To make a stand; to stand firm.
- 16
To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end.
“That horse stays well.”
- 17
To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.
“We stayed in Hawaii for a week. I can only stay for an hour.”
- 18
To wait; rest in patience or expectation.
- 19
(used with on or upon) To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.
- 20
To continue to have a particular quality.
“Wear gloves so your hands stay warm.”
- 21
To live; reside
“Hey, where do you stay at?”
noun
- 1
A prop; a support.
- 2
A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing.
“Where are the stays for my collar?”
- 3
(in the plural) A corset.
- 4
A fastening for a garment; a hook; a clasp; anything to hang another thing on.
noun
- 1
A strong rope or wire supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.
- 2
A guy, rope, or wire supporting or stabilizing a platform, such as a bridge, a pole, such as a tentpole, the mast of a derrick, or other structural element.
“The engineer insisted on using stays for the scaffolding.”
- 3
The transverse piece in a chain-cable link.
Synonyms
verb
- 1
To brace or support with a stay or stays
“stay a mast”
- 2
To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.
- 3
To tack; put on the other tack.
“to stay ship”
- 4
To change; tack; go about; be in stays, as a ship.
adjective
- 1
Steep; ascending.
- 2
(of a roof) Steeply pitched.
- 3
Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer.
- 4
Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud.
adverb
- 1
Steeply.
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