stay

Less common meanings

6. 6
   court ordernouncountable

   An official decision to delay a punishment or legal action.

   Like pressing pause on a video, so everything stops for a while.

   The judge ordered a stay, and the case stopped for a month.

   His lawyer asked the court for a stay so they would have more time.

   UsageA judge can grant a stay.

   Similarreprieve, postponement, suspension, deferment, deferral

   Note
7. 7
   pause (case)verbtransitive

   To delay something or put it off until later.

   Like pressing pause on a movie so you can finish it later.

   The judge agreed to stay the trial for two weeks.

   The governor stayed the execution while new evidence was reviewed.

   Similarsuspend, postpone, delay, defer, halt

   Note
8. 8
   haltverbtransitive

   To stop or hold back someone or something, or stop something from going on.

   Bad weather stayed the ship in the harbor for two days.

   One sharp look from his mother was enough to stay his hand.

   Similarhalt, stop, check, hold, restrain

   Note
9. 9
   satisfy (hunger)verbtransitive

   To give something strength or support, or to satisfy a need for a short time.

   A handful of nuts will stay your hunger until dinner.

   We ate some crackers to stay our hunger on the long drive.

   UsageSay stay your hunger: eat a little for now.

   Similarsustain, fortify, nourish, support

   Note
10. 10
    stiff stripnouncountable

    A small stiff piece, often plastic, that keeps part of a shirt or dress in shape.

    Like the thin metal rods inside an umbrella that keep its shape.

    He slid a plastic stay into each corner of his shirt collar.

    One stay in the dress had bent, so the fabric did not lie flat.

    Similarstiffener, bone

11. 11
    guy ropenouncountable

    A strong rope or wire that holds up a ship's mast, a pole, or another tall structure.

    Each tent pole has a stay that you tie to a peg in the ground.

    Workers tightened the stays on the radio tower before the storm.

    Similarguy, cable, wire, brace

    Note
12. 12
    upright supportnouncountable

    Something that holds another thing up, like a pole or post.

    They put a wooden stay under the sagging shelf.

    He bent one stay on his bike frame when he fell.

    Similarprop, support, brace, strut, mainstay

    Note
13. 13
    steady (wall)verbtransitive

    To hold something up or keep it steady, for example with ropes or wires.

    Workers stayed the old wall with thick wooden posts.

    Workers used steel cables to stay the tall radio tower.

    Similarbrace, prop, support, steady, shore

    Note
14. 14
    verbdatedintransitive

    To stand firm and refuse to give up or move back.

    Similarhold, stand, resist

    Oppositeretreat, flee, yield

    Note
15. 15
    laced underwearnouncountableplural

    Stiff underwear, called stays, that is laced tight around the body to make the waist look smaller.

    Her maid helped her lace her stays tightly before the dance.

    Grandmother kept an old pair of stays in the trunk with her wedding dress.

    Similarcorset

    Note
16. 16
    nounobsoleteuncountable

    Self-control, or the power to hold back strong feelings and act calmly.

    The wisdom, stay, and moderation of the king.

    1622, Francis, Lord VerulamHere, stay means self-control, calm and careful behavior.

    Not grudging that thy lust hath bounds and stays.

    1633, George Herbert, The Church Porch

    Similarrestraint, prudence, composure, self-control, sobriety

    Oppositerecklessness, rashness, impetuosity

    Note
17. 17
    nounarchaic

    A stop or pause in movement or action.

    Made of ſphear-metal, never to decay / Untill his revolution was at ſtay.

    1646, John Milton, “Another on the ſame”Here, at stay means stopped or come to a halt.

    Note
18. 18
    verbarchaicintransitive

    To come to an end or stop happening.

    Here my commission stays,

    1591, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt,”Here, stays means ends, so my orders stop here.

    That day the storm stayed.

    Note
19. 19
    nounarchaic

    A hook or clasp that holds a piece of clothing closed.

    Note
20. 20
    verbobsolete

    To keep someone interested so they keep watching or listening.
21. 21
    nounarchaic

    The state of being fixed and not changing.
22. 22
    verb

    To make a ship's mast lean forward, backward, or to one side using ropes.
23. 23
    verb

    Of a sailing ship, to turn its front through the wind to sail the other way, or to turn a ship so.
24. 24
    noun

    The small bar across the middle of a link in a heavy chain.
25. 25
    verbobsolete

    To put up with something hard and not give in.

    She will not stay the siege of loving terms, Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes,

    c. 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”
26. 26
    verbobsolete

    To wait for someone or something.

    My father stays my coming;

    c. 1590, William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”
27. 27
    verbobsolete

    To remain somewhere so you can join a meal or event.

    I stay dinner there.

    c. 1593, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third:”
28. 28
    verbobsolete

    To trust in something and depend on it.

    I stay here on my bond.

    c. 1596, William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”
29. 29
    verbobsolete

    To stop moving.
30. 30
    verbobsolete

    To serve someone and wait on them.

    Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure.

    c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”
31. 31
    noun

    A place where ships stop and anchor.
32. 32
    nounobsolete

    Something that gets in the way.

    They were able to read good authors without any stay, if the book were not false.

    1551, Thomas More, A Fruteful
33. 33
    adjectivedialectalUK

    Steep, or going uphill.
34. 34
    adjectivedialectalUK

    Of a roof, sloping sharply.
35. 35
    adjectivedialectalUK

    Stiff or upright in body, or distant or proud in manner.
36. 36
    adverbdialectalUK

    At a sharp slope.