First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1stare
verb \ˈster\
: to look at someone or something for a long time often with your eyes wide open
staredstar·ing
Full Definition of STARE
intransitive verb
1
: to look fixedly often with wide-open eyes
2
: to show oneself conspicuously <the error stared from the page>
3
of hair : to stand on end : bristle; also : to appear rough and lusterless
transitive verb
1
: to have an effect on by staring
2
: to look at with a searching or earnest gaze
— star·er noun
— stare one in the face
: to be undeniably and forcefully evident or apparent
See stare defined for English-language learners
See stare defined for kids
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Origin of STARE
Middle English, from Old English starian; akin to Old High German starēn to stare, Greek stereos solid, Lithuanian starinti to stiffen
Rhymes with STARE
air, Ayr, bare, bear, Blair, blare, care, chair, chare, dare, Dare, e'er, ere, err, eyre, fair, fare, flair, flare, glair, glare, hair, hare, Herr, heir, lair, mare, ne'er, pair, pare, pear, prayer, rare, rear, scare, share, snare, spare, square, stair, swear, tare, tear, their, there, vair, ware, wear, weir, where, yare
2stare
noun
: the act of looking directly at someone or something for a long time : the act of staring
Full Definition of STARE
: the act or an instance of staring <a blank stare>
See stare defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of STARE
15th century
STARED Defined for Kids
1stare
verb \ˈster\
staredstar·ing
Definition of STARE for Kids
: to look at hard and long often with wide-open eyes
2stare
noun
Definition of STARE for Kids
: the act or an instance of looking at hard and long
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