Definition Definition

stay - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'stay' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Stay [ n.]
- A large, strong rope, employed to support a mast, by being extended from the head of one mast down to some other, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays; those which lead to the vessel's side are called backstays. See Illust. of Ship.
- That which serves as a prop; a support.
- A corset stiffened with whalebone or other material, worn by women, and rarely by men.
- Continuance in a place; abode for a space of time; sojourn; as, you make a short stay in this city.
- Cessation of motion or progression; stand; stop.
- Hindrance; let; check.
- Restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.
- Strictly, a part in tension to hold the parts together, or stiffen them.
2 . Stay [ v. i.]
- To stop from motion or falling; to prop; to fix firmly; to hold up; to support.
- To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.
- To bear up under; to endure; to support; to resist successfully.
- To hold from proceeding; to withhold; to restrain; to stop; to hold.
- To hinde/; to delay; to detain; to keep back.
- To remain for the purpose of; to wait for.
- To cause to cease; to put an end to.
- To fasten or secure with stays; as, to stay a flat sheet in a steam boiler.
- To tack, as a vessel, so that the other side of the vessel shall be presented to the wind.
- To remain; to continue in a place; to abide fixed for a space of time; to stop; to stand still.
- To continue in a state.
- To wait; to attend; to forbear to act.
- To dwell; to tarry; to linger.
- To rest; to depend; to rely; to stand; to insist.
- To come to an end; to cease; as, that day the storm stayed.
- To hold out in a race or other contest; as, a horse stays well.
- To change tack; as a ship.

Meaning of 'stay' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . stay [ n]
Meaning (1):
- continuing or remaining in a place or state
Example in sentence:
  • a four-month stay in bankruptcy court;
  • a lengthy hospital stay;
  • they had a nice stay in Paris
Meaning (2):
- the state of inactivity following an interruption
Example in sentence:
  • during the halt he got some lunch;
  • he spent the entire stop in his seat;
  • held them in check;
  • the momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow;
  • the negotiations were in arrest
Meaning (3):
- a judicial order forbidding some action until an event occurs or the order is lifted
Example in sentence:
  • the Supreme Court has the power to stay an injunction pending an appeal to the whole Court
4 . stay [ v]
Meaning (4):
- continue in a place, position, or situation
Example in sentence:
  • After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser;
  • despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year;
  • She continued as deputy mayor for another year;
  • Stay with me, please
Meaning (5):
- stay the same; remain in a certain state
Example in sentence:
  • He remained unmoved by her tears;
  • rest assured;
  • stay alone;
  • The bad weather continued for another week;
  • The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it
Meaning (6):
- remain behind
Example in sentence:
  • I had to stay at home and watch the children
Meaning (7):
- stop or halt
Example in sentence:
  • Please stay the bloodshed!
Meaning (8):
- overcome or allay
Example in sentence:
  • quell my hunger
Meaning (9):
- hang on during a trial of endurance
Example in sentence:
  • ride out the storm
Meaning (10):
- dwell
Example in sentence:
  • stay a bit longer--the day is still young;
  • You can stay with me while you are in town
Meaning (11):
- stay put (in a certain place)
Example in sentence:
  • Stay put in the corner here!;
  • Stick around and you will learn something!;
  • We are staying in Detroit; we are not moving to Cincinnati
Meaning (12):
- stay behind
Example in sentence:
  • The hostility remained long after they made up;
  • The smell stayed in the room
Meaning (13):
- stop a judicial process
Example in sentence:
  • The judge stayed the execution order

Nearby Words:

stab stabat mater stabbed stabber stabbing stabbingly stabiliment stabilitate stability stable

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