| Words | Parts of Speech | Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
|---|---|---|
| stack | adjective | A large pile of hay, grain, straw, or the like, usually of a nearly conical form, but sometimes rectangular or oblong, contracted at the top to a point or ridge, and sometimes covered with thatch., A pile of poles or wood, indefinite in quantity., A pile of wood containing 108 cubic feet., A number of flues embodied in one structure, rising above the roof. Hence:, Any single insulated and prominent structure, or upright pipe, which affords a conduit for smoke; as, the brick smokestack of a factory; the smokestack of a steam vessel., A section of memory in a computer used for temporary storage of data, in which the last datum stored is the first retrieved., A data structure within random-access memory used to simulate a hardware stack; as, a push-down stack., To lay in a conical or other pile; to make into a large pile; as, to stack hay, cornstalks, or grain; to stack or place wood. |
| stade | noun | A stadium., A landing place or wharf. |
| staff | noun | A long piece of wood; a stick; the long handle of an instrument or weapon; a pole or srick, used for many purposes; as, a surveyor’s staff; the staff of a spear or pike., A stick carried in the hand for support or defense by a person walking; hence, a support; that which props or upholds., A pole, stick, or wand borne as an ensign of authority; a badge of office; as, a constable’s staff., A pole upon which a flag is supported and displayed., The round of a ladder., A series of verses so disposed that, when it is concluded, the same order begins again; a stanza; a stave., The five lines and the spaces on which music is written; — formerly called stave., An arbor, as of a wheel or a pinion of a watch., The grooved director for the gorget, or knife, used in cutting for stone in the bladder., An establishment of officers in various departments attached to an army, to a section of an army, or to the commander of an army. The general’s staff consists of those officers about his person who are employed in carrying his commands into execution. See Etat Major., Hence: A body of assistants serving to carry into effect the plans of a superintendant or manager; as, the staff of a newspaper. |
| stage | noun | A floor or story of a house., An elevated platform on which an orator may speak, a play be performed, an exhibition be presented, or the like., A floor elevated for the convenience of mechanical work, or the like; a scaffold; a staging., A platform, often floating, serving as a kind of wharf., The floor for scenic performances; hence, the theater; the playhouse; hence, also, the profession of representing dramatic compositions; the drama, as acted or exhibited., A place where anything is publicly exhibited; the scene of any noted action or carrer; the spot where any remarkable affair occurs., The platform of a microscope, upon which an object is placed to be viewed. See Illust. of Microscope., A place of rest on a regularly traveled road; a stage house; a station; a place appointed for a relay of horses., A degree of advancement in a journey; one of several portions into which a road or course is marked off; the distance between two places of rest on a road; as, a stage of ten miles., A degree of advancement in any pursuit, or of progress toward an end or result., A large vehicle running from station to station for the accomodation of the public; a stagecoach; an omnibus., One of several marked phases or periods in the development and growth of many animals and plants; as, the larval stage; pupa stage; zoea stage., To exhibit upon a stage, or as upon a stage; to display publicly. |
| stail | imp. & p. p. of Stay., A handle, as of a mop; a stale. | |
| staid | adjective | Sober; grave; steady; sedate; composed; regular; not wild, volatile, or fanciful., of Stay |
| stain | verb t. | To discolor by the application of foreign matter; to make foul; to spot; as, to stain the hand with dye; armor stained with blood., To color, as wood, glass, paper, cloth, or the like, by processess affecting, chemically or otherwise, the material itself; to tinge with a color or colors combining with, or penetrating, the substance; to dye; as, to stain wood with acids, colored washes, paint rubbed in, etc.; to stain glass., To spot with guilt or infamy; to bring reproach on; to blot; to soil; to tarnish., To cause to seem inferior or soiled by comparison., To give or receive a stain; to grow dim., A discoloration by foreign matter; a spot; as, a stain on a garment or cloth., A natural spot of a color different from the gound., Taint of guilt; tarnish; disgrace; reproach., Cause of reproach; shame., A tincture; a tinge. |
| stair | noun | One step of a series for ascending or descending to a different level; — commonly applied to those within a building., A series of steps, as for passing from one story of a house to another; — commonly used in the plural; but originally used in the singular only. |
| stake | verb t. | A piece of wood, usually long and slender, pointed at one end so as to be easily driven into the ground as a support or stay; as, a stake to support vines, fences, hedges, etc., A stick inserted upright in a lop, eye, or mortise, at the side or end of a cart, a flat car, or the like, to prevent goods from falling off., The piece of timber to which a martyr was affixed to be burned; hence, martyrdom by fire., A small anvil usually furnished with a tang to enter a hole in a bench top, — used by tinsmiths, blacksmiths, etc., for light work, punching upon, etc., That which is laid down as a wager; that which is staked or hazarded; a pledge., To fasten, support, or defend with stakes; as, to stake vines or plants., To mark the limits of by stakes; — with out; as, to stake out land; to stake out a new road., To put at hazard upon the issue of competition, or upon a future contingency; to wager; to pledge., To pierce or wound with a stake. |
| stale | noun | The stock or handle of anything; as, the stale of a rake., Vapid or tasteless from age; having lost its life, spirit, and flavor, from being long kept; as, stale beer., Not new; not freshly made; as, stele bread., Having lost the life or graces of youth; worn out; decayed., Worn out by use or familiarity; having lost its novelty and power of pleasing; trite; common., To make vapid or tasteless; to destroy the life, beauty, or use of; to wear out., To make water; to discharge urine; — said especially of horses and cattle., That which is stale or worn out by long keeping, or by use., A prostitute., Urine, esp. that of beasts., Something set, or offered to view, as an allurement to draw others to any place or purpose; a decoy; a stool pigeon., A stalking-horse., A stalemate., A laughingstock; a dupe. |
| stalk | noun | The stem or main axis of a plant; as, a stalk of wheat, rye, or oats; the stalks of maize or hemp., The petiole, pedicel, or peduncle, of a plant., That which resembes the stalk of a plant, as the stem of a quill., An ornament in the Corinthian capital resembling the stalk of a plant, from which the volutes and helices spring., One of the two upright pieces of a ladder., A stem or peduncle, as of certain barnacles and crinoids., The narrow basal portion of the abdomen of a hymenopterous insect., The peduncle of the eyes of decapod crustaceans., An iron bar with projections inserted in a core to strengthen it; a core arbor., To walk slowly and cautiously; to walk in a stealthy, noiseless manner; — sometimes used with a reflexive pronoun., To walk behind something as a screen, for the purpose of approaching game; to proceed under clover., To walk with high and proud steps; usually implying the affectation of dignity, and indicating dislike. The word is used, however, especially by the poets, to express dignity of step., To approach under cover of a screen, or by stealth, for the purpose of killing, as game., A high, proud, stately step or walk. |
| stall | verb i. | A stand; a station; a fixed spot; hence, the stand or place where a horse or an ox kept and fed; the division of a stable, or the compartment, for one horse, ox, or other animal., A stable; a place for cattle., A small apartment or shed in which merchandise is exposed for sale; as, a butcher’s stall; a bookstall., A bench or table on which small articles of merchandise are exposed for sale., A seat in the choir of a church, for one of the officiating clergy. It is inclosed, either wholly or partially, at the back and sides. The stalls are frequently very rich, with canopies and elaborate carving., In the theater, a seat with arms or otherwise partly inclosed, as distinguished from the benches, sofas, etc., The space left by excavation between pillars. See Post and stall, under Post., To put into a stall or stable; to keep in a stall or stalls; as, to stall an ox., To fatten; as, to stall cattle., To place in an office with the customary formalities; to install., To plunge into mire or snow so as not to be able to get on; to set; to fix; as, to stall a cart., To forestall; to anticipitate. Having, To keep close; to keep secret., To live in, or as in, a stall; to dwell., To kennel, as dogs., To be set, as in mire or snow; to stick fast., To be tired of eating, as cattle. |
| stamp | verb i. | To strike beat, or press forcibly with the bottom of the foot, or by thrusting the foot downward., To bring down (the foot) forcibly on the ground or floor; as, he stamped his foot with rage., To crush; to pulverize; specifically (Metal.), to crush by the blow of a heavy stamp, as ore in a mill., To impress with some mark or figure; as, to stamp a plate with arms or initials., Fig.: To impress; to imprint; to fix deeply; as, to stamp virtuous principles on the heart., To cut out, bend, or indent, as paper, sheet metal, etc., into various forms, by a blow or suddenly applied pressure with a stamp or die, etc.; to mint; to coin., To put a stamp on, as for postage; as, to stamp a letter; to stamp a legal document., To strike; to beat; to crush., To strike the foot forcibly downward., The act of stamping, as with the foot., The which stamps; any instrument for making impressions on other bodies, as a die., The mark made by stamping; a mark imprinted; an impression., that which is marked; a thing stamped., A picture cut in wood or metal, or made by impression; a cut; a plate., An offical mark set upon things chargeable with a duty or tax to government, as evidence that the duty or tax is paid; as, the stamp on a bill of exchange., Hence, a stamped or printed device, issued by the government at a fixed price, and required by law to be affixed to, or stamped on, certain papers, as evidence that the government dues are paid; as, a postage stamp; a receipt stamp, etc., An instrument for cutting out, or shaping, materials, as paper, leather, etc., by a downward pressure., A character or reputation, good or bad, fixed on anything as if by an imprinted mark; current value; authority; as, these persons have the stamp of dishonesty; the Scriptures bear the stamp of a divine origin., Make; cast; form; character; as, a man of the same stamp, or of a different stamp., A kind of heavy hammer, or pestle, raised by water or steam power, for beating ores to powder; anything like a pestle, used for pounding or bathing., A half-penny., Money, esp. paper money. |
| stand | noun | To be at rest in an erect position; to be fixed in an upright or firm position, To be supported on the feet, in an erect or nearly erect position; — opposed to lie, sit, kneel, etc., To continue upright in a certain locality, as a tree fixed by the roots, or a building resting on its foundation., To occupy or hold a place; to have a situation; to be situated or located; as, Paris stands on the Seine., To cease from progress; not to proceed; to stop; to pause; to halt; to remain stationary., To remain without ruin or injury; to hold good against tendencies to impair or injure; to be permanent; to endure; to last; hence, to find endurance, strength, or resources., To maintain one’s ground; to be acquitted; not to fail or yield; to be safe., To maintain an invincible or permanent attitude; to be fixed, steady, or firm; to take a position in resistance or opposition., To adhere to fixed principles; to maintain moral rectitude; to keep from falling into error or vice., To have or maintain a position, order, or rank; to be in a particular relation; as, Christian charity, or love, stands first in the rank of gifts., To be in some particular state; to have essence or being; to be; to consist., To be consistent; to agree; to accord., To hold a course at sea; as, to stand from the shore; to stand for the harbor., To offer one’s self, or to be offered, as a candidate., To stagnate; not to flow; to be motionless., To measure when erect on the feet., To be or remain as it is; to continue in force; to have efficacy or validity; to abide., To appear in court., To endure; to sustain; to bear; as, I can not stand the cold or the heat., To resist, without yielding or receding; to withstand., To abide by; to submit to; to suffer., To set upright; to cause to stand; as, to stand a book on the shelf; to stand a man on his feet., To be at the expense of; to pay for; as, to stand a treat., The act of standing., A halt or stop for the purpose of defense, resistance, or opposition; as, to come to, or to make, a stand., A place or post where one stands; a place where one may stand while observing or waiting for something., A station in a city or town where carriages or wagons stand for hire; as, a cab stand., A raised platform or station where a race or other outdoor spectacle may be viewed; as, the judge’s or the grand stand at a race course., A small table; also, something on or in which anything may be laid, hung, or placed upright; as, a hat stand; an umbrella stand; a music stand., A place where a witness stands to testify in court., The situation of a shop, store, hotel, etc.; as, a good, bad, or convenient stand for business., Rank; post; station; standing., A state of perplexity or embarrassment; as, to be at a stand what to do., A young tree, usually reserved when other trees are cut; also, a tree growing or standing upon its own root, in distinction from one produced from a scion set in a stock, either of the same or another kind of tree., A weight of from two hundred and fifty to three hundred pounds, — used in weighing pitch. |
| stane | noun | A stone. |
| stang | imp. of Sting., A long bar; a pole; a shaft; a stake., In land measure, a pole, rod, or perch., To shoot with pain., of Sting | |
| stank | adjective | Weak; worn out., To sigh., Stunk., Water retained by an embankment; a pool water., A dam or mound to stop water., of Stink |
| stant | 3d pers. sing. pres. | Alt. of Stont |
| stare | noun | The starling., To look with fixed eyes wide open, as through fear, wonder, surprise, impudence, etc.; to fasten an earnest and prolonged gaze on some object., To be very conspicuous on account of size, prominence, color, or brilliancy; as, staring windows or colors., To stand out; to project; to bristle., To look earnestly at; to gaze at., The act of staring; a fixed look with eyes wide open. |
| starf | imp. | Starved. |
| stark | noun | Stiff; rigid., Complete; absolute; full; perfect; entire., Strong; vigorous; powerful., Severe; violent; fierce., Mere; sheer; gross; entire; downright., Wholly; entirely; absolutely; quite; as, stark mind., To stiffen. |
| starn | noun | The European starling. |
| start | verb i. | To leap; to jump., To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act., To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start business., To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure., To cause to move suddenly; to disturb suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly; as, the hounds started a fox., To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent., To cause to move or act; to set going, running, or flowing; as, to start a railway train; to start a mill; to start a stream of water; to start a rumor; to start a business., To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate; as, to start a bone; the storm started the bolts in the vessel., To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from; as, to start a water cask., The act of starting; a sudden spring, leap, or motion, caused by surprise, fear, pain, or the like; any sudden motion, or beginning of motion., A convulsive motion, twitch, or spasm; a spasmodic effort., A sudden, unexpected movement; a sudden and capricious impulse; a sally; as, starts of fancy., The beginning, as of a journey or a course of action; first motion from a place; act of setting out; the outset; — opposed to finish., A tail, or anything projecting like a tail., The handle, or tail, of a plow; also, any long handle., The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water-wheel bucket., The arm, or level, of a gin, drawn around by a horse. |
| state | noun | The circumstances or condition of a being or thing at any given time., Rank; condition; quality; as, the state of honor., Condition of prosperity or grandeur; wealthy or prosperous circumstances; social importance., Appearance of grandeur or dignity; pomp., A chair with a canopy above it, often standing on a dais; a seat of dignity; also, the canopy itself., Estate, possession., A person of high rank., Any body of men united by profession, or constituting a community of a particular character; as, the civil and ecclesiastical states, or the lords spiritual and temporal and the commons, in Great Britain. Cf. Estate, n., 6., The principal persons in a government., The bodies that constitute the legislature of a country; as, the States-general of Holland., A form of government which is not monarchial, as a republic., A political body, or body politic; the whole body of people who are united one government, whatever may be the form of the government; a nation., In the United States, one of the commonwealth, or bodies politic, the people of which make up the body of the nation, and which, under the national constitution, stands in certain specified relations with the national government, and are invested, as commonwealth, with full power in their several spheres over all matters not expressly inhibited., Highest and stationary condition, as that of maturity between growth and decline, or as that of crisis between the increase and the abating of a disease; height; acme., Stately., Belonging to the state, or body politic; public., To set; to settle; to establish., To express the particulars of; to set down in detail or in gross; to represent fully in words; to narrate; to recite; as, to state the facts of a case, one’s opinion, etc., A statement; also, a document containing a statement. |
| stave | noun | One of a number of narrow strips of wood, or narrow iron plates, placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel or structure; esp., one of the strips which form the sides of a cask, a pail, etc., One of the cylindrical bars of a lantern wheel; one of the bars or rounds of a rack, a ladder, etc., A metrical portion; a stanza; a staff., The five horizontal and parallel lines on and between which musical notes are written or pointed; the staff., To break in a stave or the staves of; to break a hole in; to burst; — often with in; as, to stave a cask; to stave in a boat., To push, as with a staff; — with off., To delay by force or craft; to drive away; — usually with off; as, to stave off the execution of a project., To suffer, or cause, to be lost by breaking the cask., To furnish with staves or rundles., To render impervious or solid by driving with a calking iron; as, to stave lead, or the joints of pipes into which lead has been run., To burst in pieces by striking against something; to dash into fragments. |