First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1stay
noun \ˈstā\
Definition of STAY
1
: a large strong rope usually of wire used to support a mast
2
: 1guy
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of STAY
Middle English, from Old English stæg; akin to Old Norse stag stay
Rhymes with STAY
a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay, he, hey, Hue, j, jay, Jay, k, kay, Kay, lay, lei, may, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, pay, pe, play, pray, prey, qua, quai, quay, Rae, ray, re, say, shay, slay, sleigh, spae, spay, Spey, splay, spray, stray, sway, Tay, they, tray, trey, way, weigh, whey, yea
2stay
verb
Definition of STAY
transitive verb1
: to secure upright with or as if with stays
2
: to incline (a mast) forward, aft, or to one side by the stays
intransitive verb
: to go about : tack
First Known Use of STAY
1627
3stay
verb
stayed \ˈstād\ also staid \ˈstād\ stay·ing
Definition of STAY
intransitive verb
1
: to stop going forward : pause
2
: to stop doing something : cease
3
: to continue in a place or condition : remain <stayed up all night> <went for a short vacation but stayed on for weeks> <stay put till I come back>
4
: to stand firm
5
: to take up residence : lodge
6
: to keep even in a contest or rivalry <stay with the leaders>
7
: to call a poker bet without raising
8
obsolete : to be in waiting or attendance
transitive verb
1
: to wait for : await
2
: to stick or remain with (as a race or trial of endurance) to the end —usually used in the phrase stay the course
3
: to remain during <stayed the whole time>
4
Origin of STAY
Middle English, from Anglo-French estei-, estai-, stem of ester to stand, stay, from Latin stare — more at stand
First Known Use: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of STAY
defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time <deferred buying a car until spring>. postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time <the game is postponed until Saturday>. suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied <business will be suspended while repairs are under way>. stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority <the governor stayed the execution>.
4stay
noun
Definition of STAY
1
a : the action of halting : the state of being stopped b : a stopping or suspension of procedure or execution by judicial or executive order
2
obsolete : self-control, moderation
3
: a residence or sojourn in a place
4
: capacity for endurance
First Known Use of STAY
1536
5stay
noun
Definition of STAY
1
: one that serves as a prop : support
2
: a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment or part (as a shirt collar)
3
: a corset stiffened with bones —usually used in plural
Origin of STAY
Middle English, from Middle French estaie, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch stake pole, Middle Low German stak post, stake pole — more at stake
First Known Use: 14th century
6stay
transitive verb
Definition of STAY
1
: to provide physical or moral support for : sustain
2
: to fix on something as a foundation
First Known Use of STAY
1548
STAYING Defined for Kids
1stay
verb \ˈstā\
stayedstay·ing
Definition of STAY for Kids
1
: to remain after others have gone <She stayed after the party to help.>
2
: to continue unchanged <We stayed friends for many years.>
3
: to stop going forward : pause <He instructed the dog to stay.>
4
: to live for a while <I'm staying with friends.> <We will stay at the shore for the summer.>
5
: to put a stop to : halt <The governor stayed the execution.>
2stay
noun
Definition of STAY for Kids
1
: a period of living in a place <Our stay in the country was too short.>
2
: the action of bringing to a stop : the state of being stopped <a stay of the execution>
3stay
noun
Definition of STAY for Kids
: a strong rope or wire used to steady or brace something (as a mast)
4stay
noun
Definition of STAY for Kids
2
: a thin firm strip (as of steel or plastic) used to stiffen a garment (as a corset) or part of a garment (as a shirt collar)
5stay
verb
stayedstaying
Definition of STAY for Kids
: to hold up <Supports stayed the sign.>
Learn More About STAY
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up stay? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).