st -abbr
- stanza
- state
- stitch
- stone
St -abbr
- saint
- stratus
- street
ST -abbr
- standard time
- used after the figure 1 to indicate the ordinal number first
sta -abbr
- station
stab ['stab] -n
- a wound produced by a pointed weapon
- a thrust of a pointed weapon
- a jerky thrust
- effort, try
- a sudden sharp feeling
- to wound or pierce by the thrust of a pointed weapon
- thrust, drive
- to thrust or give a wound with or as if with a pointed weapon
sta·bile ['stā-,bī(-ə)l, -,bil] -adj
- stationary, stable
- an abstract sculpture or construction similar in appearance to a mobile but made to be stationary
sta·bi·lise ['stā-bə-,līz] -vb, n
(variant of stabilize)
- to make stable, steadfast, or firm
- : to hold steady: as
- to maintain the stability of (as an airplane) by means of a stabilizer
- to limit fluctuations of (as prices)
- to establish a minimum price for
- to become stable, firm, or steadfast
sta·bil·i·ty [stə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- : the quality, state, or degree of being stable: as
- the strength to stand or endure : firmness
- the property of a body that causes it when disturbed from a condition of equilibrium or steady motion to develop forces or moments that restore the original condition
- resistance to chemical change or to physical disintegration
- residence for life in one monastery
sta·bi·lize ['stā-bə-,līz] -vb, n
- to make stable, steadfast, or firm
- : to hold steady: as
- to maintain the stability of (as an airplane) by means of a stabilizer
- to limit fluctuations of (as prices)
- to establish a minimum price for
- to become stable, firm, or steadfast
sta·bi·liz·er ['stā-bə-,lī-zər] -n
- : one that stabilizes something: as
- a substance added to another substance (as an explosive or plastic) or to a system (as an emulsion) to prevent or retard an unwanted alteration of physical state
- a gyroscope device to keep ships steady in a heavy sea
- an airfoil providing stability for an airplane
- the fixed horizontal member of the tail assembly
sta·ble ['stā-bəl] -n
- a building in which domestic animals are sheltered and fed
- such a building having stalls or compartments
- the racehorses of one owner
- a group of people (as athletes, writers, or performers) under one management
- the racing cars of one owner
- group, collection
stable [-b(ə-)liŋ] -vb
- to put or keep in a stable
- to dwell in or as if in a stable
- firmly established : fixed, steadfast
- not changing or fluctuating : unvarying
- permanent, enduring
- steady in purpose : firm in resolution
- not subject to insecurity or emotional illness : sane, rational
- placed so as to resist forces tending to cause motion or change of motion
- designed so as to develop forces that restore the original condition when disturbed from a condition of equilibrium or steady motion
- not readily altering in chemical makeup or physical state
- not spontaneously radioactive
stable fly -n
- a biting dipteran fly ( Stomoxys calcitrans) that resembles the common housefly and is abundant about stables
sta·ble·mate ['stā-bəl-,māt] -n
- an animal stabled with another
- a member of a stable
sta·bler [-b(ə-)lər] -n
- one who keeps a stable
stabling -n
- accommodation for animals in a building
- the building for this
stab·lish ['sta-blish] -vb, n
- establish
stac·ca·to [stə-'kä-(,)tō] -adj, adv, n
- cut short or apart in performing : disconnected
- marked by short clear-cut playing or singing of tones or chords
- abrupt, disjointed
staccato mark -n
- a pointed vertical stroke or a dot placed over or under a musical note to be produced staccato
stack ['stak] -n
- a large usu. conical pile (as of hay, straw, or grain in the sheaf) left standing in the field for storage
- an orderly pile or heap
- a large quantity or number
- an English unit of measure esp. for firewood that is equal to 108 cubic feet
- a number of flues embodied in one structure rising above a roof
- a vertical pipe (as to carry off smoke)
- the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine
- a structure of bookshelves for compact storage of books usu. used in pl.
- a section of a building housing such structures
- a pile of poker chips
- a memory or a section of memory in a computer for temporary storage in which the last item stored is the first retrieved
- a data structure that simulates a stack
- a computer memory consisting of arrays of memory elements stacked one on top of another
- to arrange in a stack : pile
- to pile in or on
- stack ed the table with books
- to arrange secretly for cheating
- to arrange or fix so as to make a particular result likely
- the odds are stack ed against us
- will stack juries to suit themselves -- Patrice Horn
- to assign (an airplane) by radio to a particular altitude and position within a group circling before landing
- to put into a waiting line
- another dozen rigs are stack ed up and waiting -- P. H. Hutchins, Jr.
- compare used with against
- such a crime is nothing when stack ed against a murder -- Pete Censky
- to form a stack
stack·able ['sta-kə-bəl] -adj
- easily arranged in a stack
stacked ['stakt] -adj
- having large breasts
stack up -vi
- to add up : total
- measure up, compare usu. used with against
stac·te ['stak-tē] -n
- a sweet spice used by the ancient Jews in preparing incense
stad·dle ['sta-dᵊl] -n
- a base (as of piling) for a stack of hay or straw
stade ['stād] -n
- stadium
sta·dia ['stā-dē-ə] -n
- a surveying method for determination of distances and differences of elevation by means of a telescopic instrument having two horizontal lines through which the marks on a graduated rod are observed
- the instrument or rod
sta·di·um ['stā-dē-əm] -n
- any of various ancient Greek units of length ranging in value from 607 to 738 feet (about 185 to 225 meters)
- an ancient Roman unit of length equal to 607 feet (185 meters)
- a course for footraces in ancient Greece orig. one stadium in length
- a tiered structure with seats for spectators surrounding an ancient Greek running track
- a large usu. roofless building with tiers of seats for spectators at sports events
- a stage in a life history
- one between successive molts of an insect
stadt·hold·er ['stat-,hōl-dər] -n
- a viceroy in a province of the Netherlands
- a chief executive officer of the provinces that formed a union leading to establishment of the Netherlands
staff ['staf] -n, adj
- a long stick carried in the hand for support in walking
- : a supporting rod: as
- shaft
- a crosspiece in a ladder or chair : rung
- flagstaff
- a pivoted arbor
- club, cudgel
- crosier
- a rod carried as a symbol of office or authority
- the horizontal lines with their spaces on which music is written called also stave
- any of various graduated sticks or rules used for measuring : rod
- the officers chiefly responsible for the internal operations of an institution or business
- a group of officers appointed to assist a civil executive or commanding officer
- military or naval officers not eligible for operational command
- the personnel who assist a director in carrying out an assigned task
- a member of a staff
- employs three full-time staff
- to supply with a staff or with workers
- to serve as a staff member of
- an organization staff ed by volunteers
staff·er ['sta-fər] -n
- a member of a staff (as of a newspaper)
staff officer -n
- a commissioned officer assigned to a military commander's staff
staff of life
- a staple of diet
- bread
Staf·ford·shire bull terrier ['sta-fərd-,shir-, -shər-] -n
- any of a breed of compact muscular terriers that have a short stiff glossy coat, were developed in England by crossing bulldogs and terriers, and were orig. bred for dogfighting
Staffs -abbr
- Staffordshire
staff sergeant -n
- a noncommissioned officer ranking in the army above a sergeant and below a platoon sergeant or sergeant first class, in the air force above a sergeant and below a technical sergeant, and in the marine corps above a sergeant and below a gunnery sergeant
staff sergeant major -n
- a noncommissioned officer in the army ranking above a master sergeant
staff tree -n
- any of a genus ( Celastrusof the family Celastraceae, the staff-tree family) of mostly twining shrubby plants including the common bittersweet
stag ['stag] -n
- an adult male red deer
- the male of various other deer (esp. genus Cervus)
- a young horse
- a young unbroken stallion
- a male animal castrated after sexual maturity
- a young adult male domestic chicken or turkey
- a social gathering of men only
- one who attends a dance or party without a companion
- to spy on
- to attend a dance or party without a companion
- restricted to men
- intended or suitable for a gathering of men only
- pornographic
- unaccompanied by someone of the opposite sex
stag beetle -n
- any of a family (Lucanidae) of mostly large beetles having males with long and often branched mandibles suggesting the antlers of a stag
stage ['stāj] -n, adj
- one of a series of positions or stations one above the other : step
- the height of the surface of a river above an arbitrary zero point
- a raised platform
- the part of a theater on which the acting takes place and which often includes the wings
- the acting profession : the theater as an occupation or activity
- soundstage
- a center of attention or scene of action
- a scaffold for workmen
- the small platform of a microscope on which an object is placed for examination
- a place of rest formerly provided for those traveling by stagecoach : station
- the distance between two stopping places on a road
- stagecoach
- : a period or step in a process, activity, or development: as
- one of the distinguishable periods of growth and development of a plant or animal
- the larval stage of an insect
- a period or phase in the course of a disease
- the degree of involvement or severity of a disease
- one passing through a (specified) stage
- an element or part of an electronic device (as an amplifier)
- one of two or more sections of a rocket that have their own fuel and engine
- to produce (as a play) on a stage
- to produce or cause to happen for public view or public effect
- to determine the phase or severity of (a disease) based on a classification of established symptomatic criteria
- to evaluate (a patient) to determine the phase, severity, or progression of a disease
- intended to represent a type or stereotype
stage business -n
- business
stage·coach ['stāj-,kōch] -n
- a horse-drawn passenger and mail coach running on a regular schedule between established stops
stage·craft [-,kraft] -n
- the effective management of theatrical devices or techniques
stage direction -n
- a description (as of a character or setting) or direction (as to indicate stage business) provided in the text of a play
stage director -n
- director
- stage manager
stage fright -n
- nervousness felt at appearing before an audience
stage·hand ['stāj-,hand] -n
- a stage worker who handles scenery, properties, or lights
stage left -n
- the left part of a stage from the viewpoint of one who faces the audience
stageman·age [-,ma-nij] -vt, n
- to arrange or exhibit so as to achieve a desired effect
- to arrange or direct from behind the scenes
- to act as stage manager for
stage manager -n
- one who supervises the physical aspects of a stage production, assists the director during rehearsals, and is in charge of the stage during a performance
stag·er ['stā-jər] -n
- an experienced person : veteran
stage right -n
- the right part of a stage from the viewpoint of one who faces the audience
stage set -n
- scenery and properties designed and arranged for a particular scene in a play
stage·struck ['stāj-,strək] -adj
- fascinated by the stage
- having an ardent desire to become an actor
stage whisper -n, vb
- a loud whisper by an actor that is audible to the spectators but is supposed for dramatic effect not to be heard by one or more of the actors
- an audible whisper
stag·fla·tion [,stag-'flā-shən] -n, adj
- persistent inflation combined with stagnant consumer demand and relatively high unemployment
stag·ger ['sta-gər] -vb, n
- to reel from side to side : totter
- to move on unsteadily
- stagger ed toward the door
- to waver in purpose or action : hesitate
- to rock violently
- to cause to doubt or hesitate : perplex
- to cause to reel or totter
- to arrange in any of various zigzags, alternations, or overlappings of position or time
- stagger teeth on a cutter
stagger -n
- an abnormal condition of domestic animals associated with damage to the central nervous system and marked by incoordination and a reeling unsteady gait
- a reeling or unsteady gait or stance
- an arrangement in which the leading edge of the upper wing of a biplane is advanced over that of the lower
- marked by an alternating or overlapping pattern
stag·ger·bush ['sta-gər-,bu̇sh] -n
- a shrubby heath ( Lyonia mariana) of the eastern U.S. that is poisonous to livestock
- a congeneric heath
staggering -adj, adv
- so great as to cause one to stagger : astonishing, overwhelming
stag·gery ['sta-g(ə-)rē] -adj
- unsteady
stag·gy ['sta-gē] -adj
- having the appearance of a mature male used of female or castrated male domestic animals
stag·horn coral ['stag-,hȯrn-] -n
- any of several large branching corals (genus Acropora,esp. A. cervicornis) that somewhat resemble antlers
staghorn sumac -n
- a sumac ( Rhus typhina) of eastern No. America that is a shrub or small tree with velvety-pubescent branches and flower stalks, leaves turning brilliant red in fall, and dense panicles of greenish-yellow flowers followed by hairy crimson fruits
stag·hound ['stag-,hau̇nd] -n
- a hound formerly used in hunting the stag and other large animals
- a large heavy hound resembling the English foxhound
staging -n
- scaffolding
- the business of running stagecoaches
- the act of journeying in stagecoaches
- the act of putting on a play
- the moving of troops or materiel forward in several stages
- the assembling of troops or materiel in transit in a particular place
staging area -n
- an area in which participants in a new esp. military operation or mission are assembled and readied
staging ground -n
- a place where something is planned or initiated
staging post -n
- stopover
Stag·i·rite ['sta-jə-,rīt] -n
- a native or resident of Stagira
stag·nant ['stag-nənt] -adj, n, adv
- not flowing in a current or stream
- stale
- long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul -- Bram Stoker
- not advancing or developing
stag·nate ['stag-,nāt] -vi, n
- to become or remain stagnant
stagy ['stā-jē] -adj, adv, n
- of or characteristic of the stage
- marked by pretense or artificiality : theatrical
staid ['stād] -adj, adv, n
- marked by settled sedateness and often prim self-restraint : sober, grave
staid ['stā] -n
(variant of stay)
- a large strong rope usu. of wire used to support a mast
- guy
- to secure upright with or as if with stays
- to incline (a mast) forward, aft, or to one side by the stays
- to go about : tack
- to stop going forward : pause
- to stop doing something : cease
- to continue in a place or condition : remain
- went for a short vacation but stay ed on for weeks
- stay put till I come back
- to stand firm
- to take up residence : lodge
- to keep even in a contest or rivalry
- to call a poker bet without raising
- to be in waiting or attendance
- to wait for : await
- to stick or remain with (as a race or trial of endurance) to the end usu. used in the phrase stay the course
- to remain during
- to stop or delay the proceeding or advance of by or as if by interposing an obstacle : halt
- to check the course of (as a disease)
- allay, pacify
- to quiet the hunger of temporarily
- the action of halting : the state of being stopped
- a stopping or suspension of procedure or execution by judicial or executive order
- self-control, moderation
- a residence or sojourn in a place
- capacity for endurance
- one that serves as a prop : support
- a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment or part (as a shirt collar)
- a corset stiffened with bones usu. used in pl.
- to provide physical or moral support for : sustain
- to fix on something as a foundation
stain ['stān] -vb, adj, n
- to suffuse with color
- discolor, soil
- taint
- a conscience stain ed with guilt
- to bring discredit on
- the scandal stain ed his reputation
- to color (as wood, glass, or cloth) by processes affecting chemically or otherwise the material itself
- to receive a stain
- a soiled or discolored spot
- a natural spot of color contrasting with the ground
- a taint of guilt : stigma
- : a preparation (as of dye or pigment) used in staining: as
- a dye or pigment capable of penetrating the pores of wood
- a dye or mixture of dyes used in microscopy to make visible minute and transparent structures, to differentiate tissue elements, or to produce specific chemical reactions
stain·abil·i·ty [,stā-nə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the capacity of cells and cell parts to stain specifically and consistently with particular dyes and stains
stained glass -n
- glass colored or stained (as by fusing metallic oxides into it) for decorative applications (as in windows)
stain·less ['stān-ləs] -adj, adv
- free from stain or stigma
- the stainless purity of his boyish life -- Oscar Wilde
- highly resistant to stain or corrosion
- made from materials resistant to stain
stainless -n
- tableware made of stainless steel
stainless steel -n
- an alloy of steel with chromium and sometimes another element (as nickel or molybdenum) that is practically immune to rusting and ordinary corrosion
stair ['ster] -n
- a series of steps or flights of steps for passing from one level to another often used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr.
- a narrow private stair s -- Lewis Mumford
- a single step of a stairway
stair·case [-,kās] -n
- the structure containing a stairway
- a flight of stairs with the supporting framework, casing, and balusters
stairclimb·er ['ster-'klī-mər] -n
- an exercise apparatus that simulates the act of climbing stairs
stair·way [-,wā] -n
- one or more flights of stairs usu. with landings to pass from one level to another
stair·well [-,wel] -n
- a vertical shaft in which stairs are located
stake ['stāk] -n
- a pointed piece of wood or other material driven or to be driven into the ground as a marker or support
- a post to which a person is bound for execution by burning
- execution by burning at a stake
- something that is staked for gain or loss
- the prize in a contest
- an interest or share in an undertaking or enterprise
- a Mormon territorial jurisdiction comprising a group of wards
- grubstake
- stakes race usu. used in pl. but sing. or pl. in constr.
- to mark the limits of by or as if by stakes
- to tether to a stake
- bet, wager
- to fasten up or support (as plants) with stakes
- to back financially
- grubstake
stake body -n
- an open motortruck body consisting of a platform with upright sticks inserted along the outside edges to retain a load
stake·hold·er ['stāk-,hōl-dər] -n
- a person entrusted with the stakes of bettors
- one that has a stake in an enterprise
- one who is involved in or affected by a course of action
stake·out ['stāk-,au̇t] -n
- a surveillance maintained by the police of an area or a person suspected of criminal activity
stake out -vt
- to assign (as a police officer) to an area usu. to conduct a surveillance
- to maintain a stakeout of
- to claim as one's own
stakes race -n
- a horse race in which the prize offered is made up at least in part of money (as entry fees) put up by the owners of the horses entered called also stake race
stake truck -n
- a truck having a stake body called also stake-bed truck
Sta·kha·nov·ite [stə-'kä-nə-,vīt] -n, adj
- a Soviet industrial worker awarded recognition and special privileges for output beyond production norms
sta·lac·tite [stə-'lak-,tīt also 'sta-lək-] -n, adj
- a deposit of calcium carbonate (as calcite) resembling an icicle hanging from the roof or sides of a cave
sta·lag ['stä-,läg] -n
- a German prison camp for noncommissioned officers or enlisted men
- prison camp
sta·lag·mite [stə-'lag-,mīt also 'sta-ləg-] -n, adj
- a deposit of calcium carbonate like an inverted stalactite formed on the floor of a cave by the drip of calcareous water
stale ['stāl] -adj, adv, n
- tasteless or unpalatable from age
- tedious from familiarity
- impaired in legal force or effect by reason of being allowed to rest without timely use, action, or demand
- impaired in vigor or effectiveness
- to make stale
- to make common : cheapen
- to become stale
- urinate used chiefly of camels and horses
- urine of a domestic animal (as a horse)
stale·mate ['stāl-,māt] -n
- a drawing position in chess in which a player is not in checkmate but has no legal move to play
- a drawn contest : deadlock
- the state of being stalemated
stalemate -vt
- to bring into a stalemate
Sta·lin·ism ['stä-lə-,ni-zəm, 'sta-] -n, n or adj, vt
- the political, economic, and social principles and policies associated with Stalin
- the theory and practice of communism developed by Stalin from Marxism-Leninism and marked esp. by rigid authoritarianism, widespread use of terror, and often emphasis on Russian nationalism
stalk ['stȯk] -n, adj
- a slender upright object or supporting or connecting part
- peduncle
- the main stem of an herbaceous plant often with its dependent parts
- a part of a plant (as a petiole or stipe) that supports another
- to pursue quarry or prey stealthily
- to walk stiffly or haughtily
- to pursue by stalking
- to go through (an area) in search of prey or quarry
- to pursue obsessively and to the point of harassment
- the act of stalking
- a stalking gait
stalk·ing horse ['stȯ-kiŋ-] -n
- a horse or a figure like a horse behind which a hunter stalks game
- something used to mask a purpose
- a candidate put forward to divide the opposition or to conceal someone's real candidacy
stall ['stȯl] -n
- a compartment for a domestic animal in a stable or barn
- a space marked off for parking a motor vehicle
- a seat in the chancel of a church with back and sides wholly or partly enclosed
- a church pew
- a front orchestra seat in a theater usu. used in pl.
- a booth, stand, or counter at which articles are displayed for sale
- a protective sheath for a finger or toe
- a small compartment
- one with a toilet or urinal
- to put into or keep in a stall
- install
- to bring to a standstill : block
- mire
- to cause (an engine) to stop usu. inadvertently
- to cause (an aircraft or airfoil) to go into a stall
- to come to a standstill (as from mired wheels or engine failure)
- to experience a stall in flying
- the condition of an airfoil or aircraft in which excessive angle of attack causes disruption of airflow with attendant loss of lift
- a ruse to deceive or delay
- to play for time : delay
- to hold off, divert, or delay by evasion or deception
stallfeed ['stȯl-,fēd] -vt
- to feed in a stall esp. so as to fatten
stall·hold·er [-,hōl-dər] -n
- one who manages a stall at which articles are sold
stal·lion ['stal-yən] -n
- an uncastrated male horse : a male horse kept for breeding
- a male animal (as a dog or a sheep) kept primarily as a stud
stal·wart ['stȯl-wərt] -adj, adv, n
- marked by outstanding strength and vigor of body, mind, or spirit
stalwart -n
- a stalwart person
- an unwavering partisan
stal·worth ['stȯl-wərt] -adj, adv, n
(variant of stalwart)
- marked by outstanding strength and vigor of body, mind, or spirit
sta·men ['stā-mən] -n
- a microsporophyll of a seed plant
- the pollen-producing male organ of a flower that consists of an anther and a filament
stamin- -comb form
- stamen
stam·i·na ['sta-mə-nə] -n
- staying power, endurance
sta·mi·nate ['stā-mə-nət, 'sta-, -,nāt] -adj
- having or producing stamens
- having stamens but no pistils
sta·mi·no·di·um [,stā-mə-'nō-dē-əm, ,sta-] -n
- an abortive or sterile stamen
stam·mel ['sta-məl] -n
- a coarse woolen clothing fabric usu. dyed red and used sometimes for undershirts of penitents
- the bright red color of stammel
stam·mer ['sta-mər] -vb, n
- to make involuntary stops and repetitions in speaking
- to utter with involuntary stops or repetitions
stamp ['stamp; vt2a & vi2 are also 'stämp or 'stȯmp] -vb
- to pound or crush with a pestle or a heavy instrument
- to strike or beat forcibly with the bottom of the foot
- to bring down (the foot) forcibly
- to extinguish or destroy by or as if by stamping with the foot usu. used with out
- impress, imprint
- to attach a stamp to
- to cut out, bend, or form with a stamp or die
- to provide with a distinctive character
- stamp ed with a dreary, institutionalized look -- Bernard Taper
- characterize
- stamp ed as honest women -- W. M. Thackeray
- pound
- to strike or thrust the foot forcibly or noisily downward
- a device or instrument for stamping
- the impression or mark made by stamping or imprinting
- a distinctive character, indication, or mark
- a lasting imprint
- the act of stamping
- a stamped or printed paper affixed in evidence that a tax has been paid
- postage stamp
stam·pede [(,)stam-'pēd] -n
- a wild headlong rush or flight of frightened animals
- a mass movement of people at a common impulse
- an extended festival combining a rodeo with exhibitions, contests, and social events
stampede -vb, n
- to cause to run away in headlong panic
- to cause (as a group of people) to act on sudden or rash impulse
- to flee headlong in panic
- to act on mass impulse
stamp·er ['stam-pər, 'stäm-, 'stȯm-; compare ¹stamp] -n
- : one that stamps: as
- a worker who performs an industrial stamping operation
- an implement for pounding or stamping
- any of various stamping machines
stamping ground ['stam-piŋ, 'stäm-, 'stȯm-] -n
- stomping ground
stamp mill ['stamp-] -n
- a mill in which ore is crushed with stamps
- a machine for stamping ore
stamp tax -n
- a tax collected by means of a stamp purchased and affixed (as to a deck of playing cards)
- such a tax on a document (as a deed or promissory note) called also stamp duty
stance ['stan(t)s] -n
- station
- site
- a way of standing or being placed : posture
- intellectual or emotional attitude
- the position of the feet of a golfer or batter preparatory to making a swing
- the position of both body and feet from which an athlete starts or operates
stanch ['stȯnch, 'stänch, 'stanch] -vt, n
- to check or stop the flowing of
- to stop the flow of blood from (a wound)
- allay, extinguish
- to stop or check in its course
- trying to stanch the crime wave
- to make watertight : stop up
(variant of staunch)
- watertight, sound
- strongly built : substantial
- steadfast in loyalty or principle
stan·chion ['stan-chən] -n, adj
- an upright bar, post, or support (as for a roof or a ship's deck)
- a device that fits loosely around the neck of an animal (as a cow) and limits forward and backward motion (as in a stall)
stand ['stand] -vb, n
- to support oneself on the feet in an erect position
- to be a specified height when fully erect
- to rise to an erect position
- to take up or maintain a specified position or posture
- can you stand on your head
- to maintain one's position
- to be in a particular state or situation
- to hold a course at sea
- hesitate
- to have or maintain a relative position in or as if in a graded scale
- stand s first in the class
- to be in a position to gain or lose because of an action taken or a commitment made
- stand s to make quite a profit
- to be a candidate : run
- to rest or remain upright on a base or lower end
- a clock stood on the mantle
- to occupy a place or location
- the house stand s on a knoll
- to remain stationary or inactive
- the car stood in the garage for a week
- to gather slowly and remain
- tears stand ing in her eyes
- agree, accord used chiefly in the expression it stands to reason
- to exist in a definite written or printed form
- copy a passage exactly as it stand s
- to remain valid or efficacious
- the order given last week still stand s
- to be available as a sire used esp. of horses
- to refuse additional cards (as in blackjack)
- to endure or undergo successfully
- this book will stand the test of time
- to tolerate without flinching : bear courageously
- to endure the presence or personality of
- to derive benefit or enjoyment from
- you look like you could stand a drink
- to remain firm in the face of
- to submit to
- to perform the duty of
- to participate in (a military formation)
- to pay the cost of (a treat) : pay for
- to cause to stand : set upright
- to make available for breeding
- a halt for defense or resistance
- an often defensive effort of some duration or degree of success
- a stop made to give a performance
- a town where such a stop is made
- an act of stopping or staying in one place
- a place or post where one stands
- a strongly or aggressively held position esp. on a debatable issue
- took a stand against higher taxes
- the place taken by a witness for testifying in court
- a section of the tiered seats for spectators of a sport or spectacle
- the occupants of such seats
- a raised platform (as for a speaker or hunter) serving as a point of vantage
- a small often open-air structure for a small retail business
- a site fit for business opportunity
- a place where a passenger vehicle stops or parks
- hive
- a frame on or in which something may be placed for support
- a group of plants growing in a continuous area
- a standing posture
standalone ['stand-ə-'lōn] -adj
- self-contained
- operating or capable of operating independently of a computer system
- a standalone word processor
stan·dard ['stan-dərd] -n, adj
- a conspicuous object (as a banner) formerly carried at the top of a pole and used to mark a rallying point esp. in battle or to serve as an emblem
- a long narrow tapering flag that is personal to an individual or corporation and bears heraldic devices
- the personal flag of the head of a state or of a member of a royal family
- an organization flag carried by a mounted or motorized military unit
- banner
- something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example : criterion
- quite slow by today's standard s
- something set up and established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality
- the fineness and legally fixed weight of the metal used in coins
- the basis of value in a monetary system
- a structure built for or serving as a base or support
- a shrub or herb grown with an erect main stem so that it forms or resembles a tree
- a fruit tree grafted on a stock that does not induce dwarfing
- the large odd upper petal of a papilionaceous flower (as of the pea)
- one of the three inner usu. erect and incurved petals of an iris
- a musical composition (as a song) that has become a part of the standard repertoire
standard -adj, adv
- constituting or conforming to a standard esp. as established by law or custom
- sound and usable but not of top quality
- regularly and widely used, available, or supplied
- standard automobile equipment
- well-established and very familiar
- having recognized and permanent value
- a standard reference work
- substantially uniform and well established by usage in the speech and writing of the educated and widely recognized as acceptable
- standard pronunciation is subject to regional variations
stan·dardbear·er ['stan-dərd-,ber-ər] -n
- one who bears a standard or banner
- one that leads an organization, movement, or party
- a standardbearer for political reform
stan·dard·bred [-,bred] -n
- any of a breed of trotting and pacing horses developed in the U.S., noted for speed and stamina, and used esp. in harness racing
standard candle -n
- candela
standard deviation -n
- a measure of the dispersion of a frequency distribution that is the square root of the arithmetic mean of the squares of the deviation of each of the class frequencies from the arithmetic mean of the frequency distribution
- a similar quantity found by dividing by one less than the number of squares in the sum of squares instead of taking the arithmetic mean
- a parameter that indicates the way in which a probability function or a probability density function is centered around its mean and that is equal to the square root of the moment in which the deviation from the mean is squared
Standard English -n
- the English that with respect to spelling, grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary is substantially uniform though not devoid of regional differences, that is well established by usage in the formal and informal speech and writing of the educated, and that is widely recognized as acceptable wherever English is spoken and understood
standard error -n
- the standard deviation of the probability function or probability density function of a random variable and esp. of a statistic
- the standard error of the mean of a sample from a population with a normal distribution that is equal to the standard deviation of the normal distribution divided by the square root of the sample size
standard gauge -n
- a railroad gauge of 4 feet 8 inches (1435 millimeters)
stan·dard·ise ['stan-dər-,dīz] -vt, n
(variant of standardize)
- to compare with a standard
- to bring into conformity with a standard
stan·dardis·sue ['stan-dərd-'i-(,)shü] -adj
- standard, typical
- a standardissue action movie
- a standardissue blue suit
stan·dard·ize ['stan-dər-,dīz] -vt, n
- to compare with a standard
- to bring into conformity with a standard
standard of living
- the necessities, comforts, and luxuries enjoyed or aspired to by an individual or group
- a minimum of necessities, comforts, or luxuries held essential to maintaining a person or group in customary or proper status or circumstances
standard operating procedure -n
- established or prescribed methods to be followed routinely for the performance of designated operations or in designated situations called also standing operating procedure
standard position -n
- the position of an angle with its vertex at the origin of a rectangular-coordinate system and its initial side coinciding with the positive x-axis
standard schnauzer -n
- any of a breed of medium-sized schnauzers that attain a height at the highest point of the shoulder blades of about 18 to 20 inches (46 to 51 centimeters) and have a salt-and-pepper or black coat
standard score -n
- an individual test score expressed as the deviation from the mean score of the group in units of standard deviation
standard time -n
- the time of a region or country that is established by law or general usage as civil time
- the mean solar time of a meridian that is a multiple of 15 arbitrarily applied to a local area or to one of the 24 time zones and designated as a number of hours earlier or later than Greenwich time
stand·away ['stan-də-,wā] -adj
- standing out from the body
stand·by ['stan(d)-,bī] -n
- one to be relied on esp. in emergencies
- a favorite or reliable choice or resource
- one that is held in reserve ready for use : substitute
standby -adj
- held near at hand and ready for use
- relating to the act or condition of standing by
- of, relating to, or traveling by an airline service in which the passenger must wait for an available unreserved seat
- on a standby basis
stand by -vi
- to be present
- to remain apart or aloof
- to be or to get ready to act
- an ambulance was standing by
- to remain loyal or faithful to : defend
standdown ['stan(d)-,dau̇n] -n
- a relaxation of status of a military unit or force from an alert or operational posture
stand down -vi
- to leave the witness stand
- to go off duty
- to withdraw from a contest, a position of leadership, or a state of alert or readiness
- to remove (as a military unit) from active duty
stand·ee [stan-'dē] -n
- a standing person : one who occupies standing room
standin ['stand-,in] -n
- someone employed to occupy an actor's place while lights and camera are readied
- substitute
stand in -vi
- to act as a stand-in
stand·ing ['stan-diŋ] -adj
- not yet cut or harvested
- upright on the feet or base : erect
- not flowing : stagnant
- remaining at the same level, degree, or amount for an indeterminate period
- continuing in existence or use indefinitely
- established by law or custom
- not movable
- done from a standing position
standing -n
- a place to stand in : location
- a position from which one may assert or enforce legal rights and duties
- length of service or experience esp. as determining rank, pay, or privilege
- position or condition in society or in a profession
- good reputation
- a member in good standing
- position relative to a standard of achievement or to achievements of competitors
- a listing of the standings of individuals or teams (as in a league)
- maintenance of position or condition : duration
- a custom of long standing
standing army -n
- a permanent army of paid soldiers
standing committee -n
- a permanent committee esp. of a legislative body
standing crop -n
- the total amount or number of living things or of one kind of living thing (as an uncut farm crop, the fish in a pond, or organisms in an ecosystem) in a particular area at any given time
standing O [-'ō] -n
- a standing ovation
standing order -n
- an instruction or prescribed procedure in force permanently or until changed or canceled
- any of the rules for the guidance and government of parliamentary procedure which endure through successive sessions until vacated or repealed
standing room -n
- space for standing
- accommodation available for spectators or passengers after all seats are filled
standing wave -n
- a single-frequency mode of vibration of a body or physical system in which the amplitude varies from place to place, is constantly zero at fixed points, and has maxima at other points
stan·dish ['stan-dish] -n
- a stand for writing materials : inkstand
stand·off ['stand-,ȯf] -n
- tie, deadlock
- the two teams played to a standoff
- a counterbalancing effect
- the act of standing off
standoff -adj
- standoffish
- used for holding something at a distance from a surface
stand off -vi
- to stay at a distance from something
- to sail away from the shore
- to keep from advancing : repel
- put off, stall
stand·off·ish [stand-'ȯ-fish] -adj, adv, n
- somewhat cold and reserved
stand oil -n
- a thickened drying oil
- linseed oil heated to about 600 F (315 C)
stand·out ['stand-,au̇t] -n
- one that is prominent or conspicuous esp. because of excellence
stand out -vi
- to appear as if in relief : project
- to be prominent or conspicuous
- stands out from the crowd
- to steer away from shore
- to be stubborn in resolution or resistance
stand·pat ['stan(d)-'pat] -adj
- stubbornly conservative : resisting or opposing change
stand pat ['stan(d)-,pa-tər, -'pa-tər] -vi, n
- to play one's hand as dealt in draw poker without drawing
- to oppose or resist change
stand·pipe ['stan(d)-,pīp] -n
- a high vertical pipe or reservoir that is used to secure a uniform pressure in a water-supply system
stand·point [-,pȯint] -n
- a position from which objects or principles are viewed and according to which they are compared and judged
stand·still [-,stil] -n
- a state characterized by absence of motion or of progress : stop
- brought traffic to a standstill
standup ['stand-,əp] -adj
- erect, upright
- stiffened to stay upright without folding over
- performed in, performing in, or requiring a standing position
- of, relating to, performing, or being a monologue of jokes, gags, or satirical comments delivered usu. while standing alone on a stage or in front of a camera
- marked by a high degree of personal integrity or loyalty
- stand-up comedy
- a performer of such comedy
- a television broadcast in which the reporter or narrator faces the camera with the scene of the story in the background
stand up -vi
- to rise to a standing position
- to remain sound and intact under stress, attack, or close scrutiny
- to fail to keep an appointment with
standup·per ['stand-'ə-pər] -n
- stand-up
stane ['stōn] -n
(variant of stone)
- : a concretion of earthy or mineral matter:
- such a concretion of indeterminate size or shape
- rock
- : a piece of rock for a specified function: as
- a building block
- a paving block
- a precious stone : gem
- gravestone
- grindstone
- whetstone
- a surface upon which a drawing, text, or design to be lithographed is drawn or transferred
- : something resembling a small stone: as
- calculus
- the hard central portion of a drupaceous fruit (as a peach)
- a hard stony seed (as of a date)
- any of various units of weight
- an official British unit equal to 14 pounds (6.3 kilograms)
- curling stone
- a round playing piece used in various games (as backgammon or go)
- a stand or table with a smooth flat top on which to impose or set type
- to hurl stones at
- to kill by pelting with stones
- to make hard or insensitive to feeling
- to face, pave, or fortify with stones
- to remove the stones or seeds of (a fruit)
- to rub, scour, or polish with a stone
- to sharpen with a whetstone
- entirely, utterly used as an intensive often used in combination
- of, relating to, or made of stone
- absolute, utter
- pure stone craziness -- Edwin Shrake
Stan·fordBi·net test [,stan-fərd-bi-'nā-] -n
- an intelligence test prepared at Stanford University as a revision of the Binet-Simon scale and commonly used with children called also Stanford-Binet
stang ['staŋ] -vt
- sting
- pang
stan·hope ['sta-nəp] -n
- a gig, buggy, or phaeton typically having a high seat and closed back
sta·nine ['stā-,nīn] -n
- any of the nine classes into which a set of normalized standard scores arranged according to rank in educational testing are divided, which include the bottom 4 percent and the top 4 percent of the scores in the first and ninth classes and the middle 20 percent in the fifth, and which have a standard deviation of 2 and a mean of 5
Sta·ni·slav·ski method [,sta-nə-'slaf-ski-, -'slav-, -'släf-, -'släv-] -n
- a technique in acting by which an actor strives to empathize with the character being portrayed so as to effect a realistic interpretation
stank ['stiŋk] -vi, adj
(variant of stink)
- to emit a strong offensive odor
- to be offensive
- the election stank of corruption
- to be in bad repute
- to possess something to an offensive degree
- to be extremely bad or unpleasant
- a strong offensive odor : stench
- a public outcry against something : fuss
- made a big stink when asked to leave
stan·na·ry ['sta-nə-rē] -n
- any of the regions in England containing establishments for the working of tin usu. used in pl.
stan·nic ['sta-nik] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing tin esp. with a valence of four
stan·nite ['sta-,nīt] -n
- a metallic black or gray mineral that is a sulfide of copper, iron, and tin
stan·nous ['sta-nəs] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing tin esp. with a valence of two
sta·nol ['sta-,nȯl, 'stā-] -n
- any of the fully saturated phytosterols
stan·za ['stan-zə] -n, adj
- a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together in a usu. recurring pattern of meter and rhyme : strophe
sta·pe·dec·to·my [,stā-pi-'dek-tə-mē] -n
- surgical removal and prosthetic replacement of part or all of the stapes to relieve deafness
sta·pe·di·al [stā-'pē-dē-əl, stə-] -adj
- of, relating to, or located near the stapes
sta·pe·lia [stə-'pēl-yə] -n
- any of a genus ( Stapelia) of chiefly African perennial herbs of the milkweed family with succulent typically leafless toothed stems and showy but usu. putrid-smelling star-shaped flowers
sta·pes ['stā-(,)pēz] -n
- the innermost ossicle of the middle ear of mammals called also stirrup
staph ['staf] -n
- staphylococcus
staph·y·li·nid [,sta-fə-'lī-nəd] -n, adj
- rove beetle
staph·y·lo·coc·cal [,sta-f(ə-)lō-'kä-kəl] -adj
- of, relating to, caused by, or being a staphylococcus
staph·y·lo·coc·cus [-'kä-kəs] -n
- any of a genus ( Staphylococcus) of nonmotile gram-positive spherical bacteria that occur singly, in pairs or tetrads, or in irregular clusters and include causative agents of various diseases (as skin infections, food poisoning, and endocarditis)
sta·ple ['stā-pəl] -n
- : a usu. U-shaped fastener: as
- a metal loop both ends of which are driven into a surface to hold the hook, hasp, or bolt of a lock, secure a rope, or fix a wire in place
- a small wire both ends of which are driven through layers of thin and easily penetrable material (as paper) and usu. clinched to hold the layers together
- a usu. metal surgical fastener used to hold layers of tissue together (as in the closure of an incision)
staple [-p(ə-)liŋ] -vt
- to provide with or secure by staples
- a town used as a center for the sale or exportation of commodities in bulk
- a place of supply : source
- a chief commodity or production of a place
- a commodity for which the demand is constant
- something having widespread and constant use or appeal
- the sustaining or principal element : substance
- raw material
- textile fiber (as wool and rayon) of relatively short length that when spun and twisted forms a yarn rather than a filament
- the length of a piece of such textile fiber
- used, needed, or enjoyed constantly usu. by many individuals
- produced regularly or in large quantities
- staple crops such as wheat and rice
- principal, chief
sta·pler ['stā-p(ə-)lər] -n
- one that deals in staple goods or in staple fiber
stapler -n
- one that inserts staples
- a small usu. hand-operated device for inserting wire staples
star ['stär] -n, adj
- a natural luminous body visible in the sky esp. at night
- a self-luminous gaseous spheroidal celestial body of great mass which produces energy by means of nuclear fusion reactions
- a planet or a configuration of the planets that is held in astrology to influence one's destiny or fortune usu. used in pl.
- a waxing or waning fortune or fame
- destiny
- a conventional figure with five or more points that represents a star
- asterisk
- an often star-shaped ornament or medal worn as a badge of honor, authority, or rank or as the insignia of an order
- one of a group of conventional stars used to place something in a scale of value
- something resembling a star
- was hit on the head and saw star s
- the principal member of a theatrical or operatic company who usu. plays the chief roles
- a highly publicized theatrical or motion-picture performer
- an outstandingly talented performer
- a person who is preeminent in a particular field
- to sprinkle or adorn with stars
- to mark with a star as being preeminent
- to mark with an asterisk
- to feature in the most prominent or important role
- the movie star s a famous stage personality
- to play the most prominent or important role
- to perform outstandingly
- of, relating to, or being a star
- of outstanding excellence : preeminent
star anise -n
- the small brown star-shaped pungent fruit of a Chinese and Vietnamese tree ( Illicium verum) that has a flavor similar to but stronger than anise and is dried and used whole or ground as a spice esp. in Chinese cooking
star apple -n
- a tropical American tree ( Chrysophyllum cainito) of the sapodilla family grown in warm regions for ornament or fruit
- its usu. green to purple apple-shaped edible fruit that when cut in cross-section reveals a star-shaped pattern formed by the carpels
star·board ['stär-bərd] -n
- the right side of a ship or aircraft looking forward
starboard -adj
- of, relating to, or situated to starboard
- to turn or put (a helm or rudder) to the right
star·burst ['stär-,bərst] -n
- something (as a pattern) that resembles diverging rays of light
starch ['stärch] -vt
- to stiffen with or as if with starch
- a white odorless tasteless granular or powdery complex carbohydrate (C 6H 10O 5) x that is the chief storage form of carbohydrate in plants, is an important foodstuff, and is used also in adhesives and sizes, in laundering, and in pharmacy and medicine
- a stiff formal manner : formality
- resolute vigor
starcham·ber ['stär-'chām-bər] -adj
- characterized by secrecy and often being irresponsibly arbitrary and oppressive
starchy ['stär-chē] -adj, adv, n
- containing, consisting of, or resembling starch
- formal, stiff
starcrossed ['stär-,krȯst] -adj
- not favored by the stars : ill-fated
- a pair of starcrossed lovers take their life -- Shak.
star·dom ['stär-dəm] -n
- the status or position of a star
star·dust ['stär-,dəst] -n
- a feeling or impression of romance, magic, or ethereality
stare ['ster] -vb, n
- to look fixedly often with wide-open eyes
- to show oneself conspicuously
- the error stared from the page
- to stand on end : bristle
- to appear rough and lusterless
- to have an effect on by staring
- to look at with a searching or earnest gaze
- the act or an instance of staring
sta·re de·ci·sis [,ster-ē-di-'sī-səs, ,stär-] -n
- a doctrine or policy of following rules or principles laid down in previous judicial decisions unless they contravene the ordinary principles of justice
stare down -vt
- to cause to waver or submit by or as if by staring
sta·rets ['stär-əts, -yəts] -n
- a spiritual director or religious teacher in the Eastern Orthodox Church
- a spiritual adviser who is not necessarily a priest, who is recognized for his piety, and who is turned to by monks or laymen for spiritual guidance
star facet -n
- one of the eight small triangular facets which abut on the table in the bezel of a brilliant
star·fish ['stär-,fish] -n
- any of a class (Asteroidea) of echinoderms that have a body of usu. five arms radially arranged about a central disk and feed largely on mollusks (as oysters) called also sea star
star·flow·er [-,flau̇(-ə)r] -n
- any of several plants having star-shaped pentamerous flowers
- any of a genus ( Trientalis,esp. T. borealis) of perennial herbs of the primrose family
star fruit -n
- carambola
star·gaze [-,gāz] -vi
- to gaze at stars
- to gaze raptly or contemplatively
star·gaz·er [-,gā-zər] -n
- : one who gazes at the stars: as
- astrologer
- astronomer
- any of various marine bony fishes (families Uranoscopidae and Dactyloscopidae) with the eyes on top of a blocky or conical head
star·gaz·ing [-,gā-ziŋ] -n
- the act or practice of a stargazer
- absorption in chimerical or impractical ideas : woolgathering
- the quality or state of being absentminded
star grass -n
- any of a genus ( Hypoxisof the family Hypoxidaceae) of grasslike perennial herbs with small star-shaped white or yellow flowers
- either of two colicroots ( Aletris farinosaand A. aurea)
stark ['stärk] -adj, adv, n
- rigid in or as if in death
- rigidly conforming (as to a pattern or doctrine) : absolute
- strong, robust
- utter, sheer
- barren, desolate
- having few or no ornaments : bare
- harsh, blunt
- the stark realities of death
- sharply delineated
- in a stark manner
- to an absolute or complete degree : wholly
stark·ers ['stär-kərz] -adj
- completely unclothed : naked
star·let ['stär-lət] -n
- a young movie actress being coached and publicized for starring roles
star·light [-,līt] -n
- the light given by the stars
star·ling ['stär-liŋ] -n
- any of a family (Sturnidae, esp. genus Sturnus) of usu. dark gregarious oscine birds
- a dark brown or in summer glossy greenish-black European bird ( S. vulgaris) naturalized nearly worldwide and often considered a pest
star·lit ['stär-,lit] -adj
- lighted by the stars
starnosed mole ['stär-,nōz(d)-] -n
- a common black long-tailed semiaquatic mole ( Condylura cristata) of the northeastern U.S. and adjacent Canada that has a series of pink fleshy projections surrounding the nostrils
starofBeth·le·hem [-'beth-li-,hem, -lē-(h)əm] -n
- any of various Old World bulbous herbs (genus Ornithogalum) of the lily family with basal leaves resembling grass
- one ( O. umbellatum) with white star-shaped flowers that is naturalized in the eastern U.S.
star of Bethlehem
- a star which according to Christian tradition guided the Magi to the infant Jesus in Bethlehem
Star of Da·vid [-'dā-vəd]
- magen david
star route -n
- a mail-delivery route in a rural or thinly populated area served by a private carrier under contract who takes mail from one post office to another or from a railroad station to a post office and usu. also delivers mail to private mailboxes along the route
star·ry ['stär-ē] -adj
- adorned with stars
- star-studded
- of, relating to, or consisting of stars : stellar
- shining like stars : sparkling
- having parts arranged like the rays of a star : stellate
- as high as or seemingly as high as the stars
- starry-eyed
star·ryeyed ['stär-ē-,īd] -adj
- regarding an object or a prospect in an overly favorable light
- characterized by dreamy, impracticable, or utopian thinking : visionary
Stars and Bars -n pl but sing in constr
- the first flag of the Confederate States of America having three bars of red, white, and red respectively and a blue union with white stars in a circle representing the seceded states
Stars and Stripes -n pl but sing in constr
- the flag of the United States having 13 alternately red and white horizontal stripes and a blue union with white stars representing the states
star sapphire -n
- a sapphire that when cut with a convex surface and polished exhibits asterism
star shell -n
- a shell that on bursting releases a shower of brilliant stars and is used for signaling
- a shell with an illuminating projectile
star·ship ['stär-,ship] -n
- a spacecraft designed for interstellar travel
starspan·gled ['stär-,spaŋ-gəld] -adj
- star-studded
star·struck [-,strək] -adj
- particularly taken with celebrities (as movie stars)
starstud·ded ['stär-,stə-dəd] -adj
- abounding in or covered with stars
star system -n
- the practice of casting famous performers in principal roles (as in motion pictures or the theater) esp. in order to capitalize on their popular appeal
start ['stärt] -vb
- to move suddenly and violently : spring
- start ed angrily to his feet
- to react with a sudden brief involuntary movement
- start ed when a shot rang out
- to issue with sudden force
- blood start ing from the wound
- to come into being, activity, or operation
- when does the movie start
- the rain start ed up again
- to protrude or seem to protrude
- eyes start ing from their sockets
- to become loosened or forced out of place
- one of the planks has start ed
- to begin a course or journey
- to range from a specified initial point
- to begin an activity or undertaking
- to begin work
- to be a participant in a game or contest
- to be in the starting lineup
- to cause to leave a place of concealment : flush
- startle, alarm
- to bring up for consideration or discussion
- to bring into being
- to cause to become loosened or displaced
- to begin the use of
- start a fresh loaf of bread
- to cause to move, act, or operate
- to cause to enter a game or contest
- to put in the starting lineup
- to care for or train during the early stages of growth and development
- a well- started coonhound
- to do or experience the first stages or actions of
- start ed studying music at the age of five
- a sudden involuntary bodily movement or reaction
- a brief and sudden action or movement
- a sudden capricious impulse or outburst
- a beginning of movement, activity, or development
- head start
- a place of beginning
- the act or an instance of being a competitor in a race or a member of a starting lineup in a game
- undefeated in six start s -- Current Biog.
START -abbr
- strategic arms reduction talks
start·er ['stär-tər] -n
- : a person who initiates or sets going: as
- an official who gives the signal to begin a race
- one who dispatches vehicles
- one that engages in a competition
- a member of a starting lineup
- one that begins to engage in an activity or process
- : one that causes something to begin operating: as
- a device for starting an engine
- an electric motor used to start an internal combustion engine
- material containing microorganisms (as yeast) used to induce a desired fermentation
- something that is the beginning of a process, activity, or series
- appetizer
starter -adj
- of, relating to, or being an item acquired with the expectation that a more elaborate or sophisticated model will be acquired in the future
star thistle -n
- a widely naturalized spiny Old World knapweed ( Centaurea calcitrapa) with purple flowers called also caltrops
- any of various knapweeds related to the star thistle
starting block -n
- a device that usu. consists of two blocks mounted on either side of an adjustable frame and that provides a runner with a rigid surface against which to brace the feet at the start of a race
- one of a series of boxes or low platforms at one end of a pool on which a competitor stands for the start of a swimming race
starting gate -n
- a mechanically operated barrier used as a starting device for a race
- a barrier that when knocked aside by a competitor (as a skier) starts an electronic timing device
star·tle ['stär-tᵊl] -vb, n
- to move or jump suddenly (as in surprise or alarm)
- the baby startle s easily
- to frighten or surprise suddenly and usu. not seriously
startle -n
- a sudden mild shock (as of surprise or alarm)
startling -adj, adv
- causing momentary fright, surprise, or astonishment
startsy ['stär-əts, -yəts] -n
(variant of starets)
- a spiritual director or religious teacher in the Eastern Orthodox Church
- a spiritual adviser who is not necessarily a priest, who is recognized for his piety, and who is turned to by monks or laymen for spiritual guidance
startup ['stärt-,əp] -n
- the act or an instance of setting in operation or motion
- a fledgling business enterprise
star turn -n
- the featured skit or number in a theatrical production
- the most widely publicized person or item in a group
star·va·tion [stär-'vā-shən] -n
- the act or an instance of starving
- the state of being starved
starvation wages -n pl
- wages insufficient to provide the ordinary necessities of life
starve ['stärv] -vb
- to perish from lack of food
- to suffer extreme hunger
- to die of cold
- to suffer greatly from cold
- to suffer or perish from deprivation
- to kill with hunger
- to deprive of nourishment
- to cause to capitulate by or as if by depriving of nourishment
- to destroy by or cause to suffer from deprivation
- to kill with cold
starve·ling ['stärv-liŋ] -n
- one that is thin from or as if from lack of food
starveling -adj
- being a starveling
- marked by poverty or inadequacy
stash ['stash] -vt
- to store in a usu. secret place for future use often used with away
- hiding place : cache
- something stored or hidden away
sta·sis ['stā-səs, 'sta-] -n
- : a slowing or stoppage of the normal flow of a bodily fluid or semifluid: as
- slowing of the current of circulating blood
- reduced motility of the intestines with retention of feces
- a state of static balance or equilibrium : stagnation
- a state or period of stability during which little or no evolutionary change in a lineage occurs
stat ['stat] -n
- statistic usu. used in pl.
- without delay : immediately
- statute
sta·tant ['stā-tᵊnt] -adj
- standing in profile with all feet on the ground used of a heraldic animal
state ['stāt] -n
- mode or condition of being
- condition of mind or temperament
- in a highly nervous state
- a condition of abnormal tension or excitement
- a condition or stage in the physical being of something
- insects in the larval state
- the gaseous state of water
- any of various conditions characterized by definite quantities (as of energy, angular momentum, or magnetic moment) in which an atomic system may exist
- social position
- high rank
- elaborate or luxurious style of living
- formal dignity : pomp usu. used with in
- a body of persons constituting a special class in a society : estate
- the members or representatives of the governing classes assembled in a legislative body
- a person of high rank (as a noble)
- a politically organized body of people usu. occupying a definite territory
- one that is sovereign
- the political organization of such a body of people
- a government or politically organized society having a particular character
- the operations or concerns of the government of a country
- one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government
- The United States of America
- the territory of a state
- to set by regulation or authority
- to express the particulars of esp. in words : report
- to express in words
state aid -n
- public monies appropriated by a state government for the partial support or improvement of a public local institution
state bank -n
- central bank
- a bank chartered by and operating under the laws of a state of the U.S.
state bird -n
- a bird selected (as by the legislature) as an emblem of a state of the U.S.
state capitalism -n
- an economic system in which private capitalism is modified by a varying degree of government ownership and control
state church -n
- established church
state college -n
- a college that is financially supported by a state government, often specializes in a branch of technical or professional education, and often forms part of the state university
state·craft ['stāt-,kraft] -n
- the art of conducting state affairs
stated -adj, adv
- fixed, regular
- the president shall, at stated times, receive...a compensation -- U.S. Constitution
- set down explicitly : declared
stated clerk -n
- an executive officer of a Presbyterian general assembly, synod, or presbytery ranking below the moderator
state flower -n
- a flowering plant selected (as by the legislature) as an emblem of a state of the U.S.
state·hood ['stāt-,hu̇d] -n
- the condition of being a state
- the status of being one of the states of the U.S.
state·house [-,hau̇s] -n
- the building in which a state legislature sits
state·less [-ləs] -adj, n
- having no state
- lacking the status of a national
state·ly [-lē] -adj, n, adv
- marked by lofty or imposing dignity
- haughty, unapproachable
- impressive in size or proportions
state·ment ['stāt-mənt] -n
- : something stated: as
- a single declaration or remark : assertion
- a report of facts or opinions
- the act or process of stating or presenting orally or on paper
- proposition
- the presentation of a theme in a musical composition
- a summary of activity in a financial account over a particular period of time
- an opinion, comment, or message conveyed indirectly usu. by nonverbal means
- monuments are statement s in form and space -- O. B. Hardison, Jr.
- an instruction in a computer program
state of the art -adj
- the level of development (as of a device, procedure, process, technique, or science) reached at any particular time usu. as a result of modern methods
state of war
- a state of actual armed hostilities regardless of a formal declaration of war
- a legal state created and ended by official declaration regardless of actual armed hostilities and usu. characterized by operation of the rules of war
- the period of time during which a state of war is in effect
sta·ter ['stā-tər, stä-'ter] -n
- an ancient gold or silver coin of the Greek city-states
state·room ['stāt-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n
- cabin
- a private room on a railroad car with one or more berths and a toilet
state's attorney -n
- a legal officer (as a district attorney) appointed or elected to represent a state in court proceedings within a district called also state attorney
state's evidence -n
- a participant in a crime or an accomplice who gives evidence for the prosecution esp. in return for a reduced sentence
- the evidence given used chiefly in the phrase turn state's evidence
States General -n pl
- the assembly of the three orders of clergy, nobility, and third estate in France before the French Revolution
- the legislature of the Netherlands from the 15th century to 1796
state·side ['stāt-,sīd] -adj
- being in, going to, coming from, or characteristic of the 48 conterminous states of the U.S.
- transferred from Europe to stateside duty
stateside -adv
- in or to the continental U.S.
states·man ['stāts-mən] -n, adj
- one versed in the principles or art of government
- one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government or in shaping its policies
- one who exercises political leadership wisely and without narrow partisanship
state socialism -n
- an economic system with limited socialist characteristics that is effected by gradual state action and typically includes public ownership of major industries and remedial measures to benefit the working class
states' right·er ['stāts-'rī-tər] -n
- a person who advocates strict interpretation of the U.S. constitutional guarantee of states' rights
states' rights -n pl
- all rights not vested by the U.S. Constitution in the federal government nor forbidden by it to the separate states
state tree -n
- a tree selected (as by the legislature) as an emblem of a state of the U.S.
state university -n
- a university maintained and administered by one of the states of the U.S. as part of the state public educational system
state·wide ['stāt-'wīd] -adj
- affecting or extending throughout all parts of a state
statewide -adv
- throughout the state
stat·ic ['sta-tik] -adj, adv
- exerting force by reason of weight alone without motion
- of or relating to bodies at rest or forces in equilibrium
- showing little change
- characterized by a lack of movement, animation, or progression
- producing an effect of repose or quiescence
- standing or fixed in one place : stationary
- stored in a tank but not under pressure
- of, relating to, or producing stationary charges of electricity : electrostatic
- of, relating to, or caused by radio static
static ['sta-ti-kē] -n, adj
- noise produced in a radio or television receiver by atmospheric or various natural or man-made electrical disturbances
- the electrical disturbances producing this noise
- heated opposition or criticism
stat·i·ce ['sta-tə-(,)sē] -n
- sea lavender
static electricity -n
- electricity that consists of isolated motionless charges (as those produced by friction)
static line -n
- a cord attached to a parachute pack and to an airplane to open the parachute after a jumper clears the plane
stat·ics ['sta-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- mechanics dealing with the relations of forces that produce equilibrium among material bodies
static tube -n
- a tube used for indicating static as distinct from impact pressure in a stream of fluid
stat·in ['sta-tᵊn] -n
- any of a group of drugs (as lovastatin and simvastatin) that inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol and promote the production of LDL-binding receptors in the liver resulting in a usu. marked decrease in the level of LDL and a modest increase in the level of HDL circulating in blood plasma
sta·tion ['stā-shən] -n
- the place or position in which something or someone stands or is assigned to stand or remain
- any of the places in a manufacturing operation at which one part of the work is done
- equipment used usu. by one person for performing a particular job
- the act or manner of standing : posture
- : a stopping place: as
- a regular stopping place in a transportation route
- the building connected with such a stopping place : depot
- one of the stations of the cross
- a post or sphere of duty or occupation
- a stock farm or ranch esp. of Australia or New Zealand
- standing, rank
- a place for specialized observation and study of scientific phenomena
- a marine biological station
- : a place established to provide a public service: as
- fire station
- police station
- a branch post office
- gas station
- a complete assemblage of radio or television equipment for transmitting or receiving
- the place in which such a station is located
station ['stā-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt
- to assign to or set in a station or position : post
- station a guard at the door
sta·tion·al ['stā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a mass formerly celebrated by the pope at designated churches in Rome on appointed holy days
sta·tion·ary ['stā-shə-,ner-ē] -adj
- fixed in a station, course, or mode : immobile
- unchanging in condition
stationary bicycle -n
- an exercise apparatus that can be pedaled like a bicycle called also stationary bike
stationary front -n
- the boundary between two air masses neither of which is replacing the other
stationary wave -n
- standing wave
station break -n
- a pause in a radio or television broadcast for announcement of the identity of the network or station
- an announcement or advertisement during this pause
sta·tio·ner ['stā-sh(ə-)nər] -n
- bookseller
- publisher
- one that sells stationery
sta·tio·nery ['stā-shə-,ner-ē] -n
- materials (as paper, pens, and ink) for writing or typing
- letter paper usu. accompanied with matching envelopes
station house -n
- a house at a post or station
- police station
sta·tion·mas·ter ['stā-shən-,mas-tər] -n
- an official in charge of the operation of a railroad station
stations of the cross
- a series of usu. 14 images or pictures esp. in a church that represent the stages of Christ's passion and death
- a devotion involving commemorative meditation before the stations of the cross
station wagon -n
- an automobile that has a passenger compartment which extends to the back of the vehicle, that has no trunk, that has one or more rear seats which can be folded down to make space for light cargo, and that has a tailgate or liftgate
stat·ism ['stā-,ti-zəm] -n
- concentration of economic controls and planning in the hands of a highly centralized government often extending to government ownership of industry
stat·ist ['stā-tist] -n, adj
- an advocate of statism
sta·tis·tic [stə-'tis-tik] -n
- a single term or datum in a collection of statistics
- a quantity (as the mean of a sample) that is computed from a sample
- estimate
- a random variable that takes on the possible values of a statistic
sta·tis·ti·cal [-ti-kəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, based on, or employing the principles of statistics
statistical mechanics -n pl but usu sing in constr
- a branch of mechanics dealing with the application of the principles of statistics to the mechanics of a system consisting of a large number of parts having motions that differ by small steps over a large range
stat·is·ti·cian [,sta-tə-'sti-shən] -n
- one versed in or engaged in compiling statistics
sta·tis·tics [stə-'tis-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a branch of mathematics dealing with the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of masses of numerical data
- a collection of quantitative data
sta·tive ['stā-tiv] -adj
- expressing a state, condition, or relation
stato- -comb form
- resting
- equilibrium
stato·blast ['sta-tə-,blast] -n
- a bud in a freshwater bryozoan that overwinters in a chitinous envelope and develops into a new individual in spring
- gemmule
stato·cyst [-,sist] -n
- an organ of equilibrium occurring esp. among invertebrate animals and consisting usu. of a fluid-filled vesicle lined with sensory hairs that detect the position of suspended statoliths
stato·lith ['sta-tə-,lith] -n
- any of the usu. calcareous bodies suspended in a statocyst
- any of various starch grains or other solid bodies in the plant cytoplasm that are held to be responsible by changes in their position for changes in orientation of a part or organ
sta·tor ['stā-tər] -n
- a stationary part in a machine in or about which a rotor revolves
stato·scope ['sta-tə-,skōp] -n
- a sensitive aneroid barometer for recording small changes in atmospheric pressure
- one used for indicating small changes in the altitude of an aircraft
stat·u·ary ['sta-chə-,wer-ē] -n
- sculptor
- the art of making statues
- a collection of statues : statues
statuary -adj
- of, relating to, or suitable for statues
stat·ue ['sta-(,)chü] -n
- a three-dimensional representation usu. of a person, animal, or mythical being that is produced by sculpturing, modeling, or casting
Statue of Liberty
- a large copper statue of a woman holding a torch aloft in her right hand located on Liberty Island in New York harbor
- a trick play in football in which the ballcarrier takes the ball from the raised hand of a teammate who is faking a pass
stat·u·esque [,sta-chə-'wesk] -adj, adv
- resembling a statue esp. in dignity, shapeliness, or stillness
- having a tall and shapely form
stat·u·ette [,sta-chə-'wet] -n
- a small statue
stat·ure ['sta-chər] -n
- natural height (as of a person) in an upright position
- quality or status gained by growth, development, or achievement
sta·tus ['stā-təs, 'sta-] -n
- position or rank in relation to others
- relative rank in a hierarchy of prestige
- high prestige
- the condition of a person or thing in the eyes of the law
- state or condition with respect to circumstances
- the status of the negotiations
status offender -n
- a young offender (as a runaway or a truant) who is under the jurisdiction of a court for repeated offenses that are not crimes
status quo [-'kwō] -n
- the existing state of affairs
- seeks to preserve the status quo
status quo an·te [-'an-tē] -n
- the state of affairs that existed previously
sta·tusy ['stā-tə-sē, 'sta-] -adj
- having, showing, or conferring prestige
stat·ut·able ['sta-chə-tə-bəl, 'sta-,chü-] -adj
- made, regulated, or imposed by or in conformity to statute : statutory
stat·ute ['sta-(,)chüt, -chət] -n
- a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government
- an act of a corporation or of its founder intended as a permanent rule
- an international instrument setting up an agency and regulating its scope or authority
statute book -n
- the whole body of legislation of a given jurisdiction whether or not published as a whole usu. used in pl.
statute mile -n
- mile
statute of limitations
- a statute assigning a certain time after which rights cannot be enforced by legal action or offenses cannot be punished
stat·u·to·ry ['sta-chə-,tȯr-ē] -adj, adv
- of or relating to statutes
- enacted, created, or regulated by statute
statutory rape -n
- sexual intercourse with a person who is below the statutory age of consent
staunch ['stȯnch, 'stänch, 'stanch] -vt, n
(variant of stanch)
- to check or stop the flowing of
- to stop the flow of blood from (a wound)
- allay, extinguish
- to stop or check in its course
- trying to stanch the crime wave
- to make watertight : stop up
stau·ro·lite ['stȯr-ə-,līt] -n, adj
- a mineral consisting of a basic silicate of iron and aluminum in prismatic orthorhombic crystals often twinned so as to resemble a cross
stave ['stāv] -n
- staff
- any of the narrow strips of wood or narrow iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel (as a barrel) or structure
- stanza
- staff
- to break in the staves of (a cask)
- to smash a hole in
- to crush or break inward
- to drive or thrust away
- to become stove in used of a boat or ship
- to walk or move rapidly
stave off -vt
- to fend off
- to ward off (as something adverse) : forestall
- trying to stave off disaster
staves ['staf] -n, adj
(variant of staff)
- a long stick carried in the hand for support in walking
- : a supporting rod: as
- shaft
- a crosspiece in a ladder or chair : rung
- flagstaff
- a pivoted arbor
- club, cudgel
- crosier
- a rod carried as a symbol of office or authority
- the horizontal lines with their spaces on which music is written called also stave
- any of various graduated sticks or rules used for measuring : rod
- the officers chiefly responsible for the internal operations of an institution or business
- a group of officers appointed to assist a civil executive or commanding officer
- military or naval officers not eligible for operational command
- the personnel who assist a director in carrying out an assigned task
- a member of a staff
- employs three full-time staff
- to supply with a staff or with workers
- to serve as a staff member of
- an organization staff ed by volunteers
stav·u·dine ['stav-yü-,dēn] -n
- d4T
stay ['stā] -n
- a large strong rope usu. of wire used to support a mast
- guy
- to secure upright with or as if with stays
- to incline (a mast) forward, aft, or to one side by the stays
- to go about : tack
- to stop going forward : pause
- to stop doing something : cease
- to continue in a place or condition : remain
- went for a short vacation but stay ed on for weeks
- stay put till I come back
- to stand firm
- to take up residence : lodge
- to keep even in a contest or rivalry
- to call a poker bet without raising
- to be in waiting or attendance
- to wait for : await
- to stick or remain with (as a race or trial of endurance) to the end usu. used in the phrase stay the course
- to remain during
- to stop or delay the proceeding or advance of by or as if by interposing an obstacle : halt
- to check the course of (as a disease)
- allay, pacify
- to quiet the hunger of temporarily
- the action of halting : the state of being stopped
- a stopping or suspension of procedure or execution by judicial or executive order
- self-control, moderation
- a residence or sojourn in a place
- capacity for endurance
- one that serves as a prop : support
- a thin firm strip (as of plastic) used for stiffening a garment or part (as a shirt collar)
- a corset stiffened with bones usu. used in pl.
- to provide physical or moral support for : sustain
- to fix on something as a foundation
stayathome ['stā-ət-'hōm] -adj, n
- remaining in one's residence, locality, or country
- remaining at home esp. to tend to children and domestic duties while a spouse is at work
stay·ca·tion ['stā-'kā-shən] -n
- a vacation spent at home or nearby
stay·er ['stā-ər] -n
- one that stays
- one that upholds or supports
staying power -n
- capacity for continuing (as in existence, influence, or popularity) without weakening
stay·sail ['stā-,sāl, -səl] -n
- a fore-and-aft sail hoisted on a stay
STB -abbr
- bachelor of sacred theology;
- bachelor of theology
std -abbr
- standard
STD [,es-(,)tē-'dē] -n
- any of various diseases or infections (as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and genital herpes) that are usu. transmitted by direct sexual contact and that include some (as hepatitis B and AIDS) that may be contracted by other than sexual means
- doctor of sacred theology
Ste -abbr
- saint (female)
stead ['sted] -n
- locality, place
- advantage used chiefly in the phrase to stand one in good stead
- the office, place, or function ordinarily occupied or carried out by someone or something else
- acted in his brother's stead
- to be of avail to : help
stead·fast ['sted-,fast also -fəst] -adj, adv, n
- firmly fixed in place : immovable
- not subject to change
- the steadfast doctrine of original sin -- Ellen Glasgow
- firm in belief, determination, or adherence : loyal
- her followers have remained steadfast
stead·ing ['ste-dᵊn, 'stē-, -diŋ] -n
- a small farm
- the service buildings or area of a farm
steady ['ste-dē] -adj, adv, n
- direct or sure in movement : unfaltering
- firm in position : fixed
- keeping nearly upright in a seaway
- showing little variation or fluctuation : stable, uniform
- not easily disturbed or upset
- constant in feeling, principle, purpose, or attachment
- dependable
- not given to dissipation : sober
- to make or keep steady
- to become steady
- in a steady manner : steadily
- on the course set used as a direction to the helmsman of a ship
- one that is steady
- a boyfriend or girlfriend with whom one goes steady
steady state -n
- a state or condition of a system or process (as one of the energy states of an atom) that does not change in time
- a condition that changes only negligibly over a specified time
steady state theory -n
- a theory in astronomy: the universe has always existed and has always been expanding with hydrogen being created continuously
steak ['stāk] -n
- a slice of meat cut from a fleshy part of a beef carcass
- a similar slice of a specified meat other than beef
- a cross-section slice of a large fish
- ground beef prepared for cooking or for serving in the manner of a steak
steak house -n
- a restaurant whose specialty is beefsteak
steak knife -n
- a table knife with a sharp often serrated blade
steak tar·tare [-tär-'tär] -n
- highly seasoned ground beef eaten raw
steal ['stēl] -vb, adj, n
- to take the property of another wrongfully and esp. as a habitual or regular practice
- to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly
- to steal or attempt to steal a base
- to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully
- to take away by force or unjust means
- they've stolen our liberty
- to take surreptitiously or without permission
- to appropriate to oneself or beyond one's proper share : make oneself the focus of
- to move, convey, or introduce secretly : smuggle
- to accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner
- to seize, gain, or win by trickery, skill, or daring
- a basketball player adept at steal ing the ball
- to reach (a base) safely solely by running and usu. catching the opposing team off guard
- the act or an instance of stealing
- a fraudulent or questionable political deal
- bargain
- it's a steal at that price
stealth ['stelth] -n
- theft
- something stolen
- the act or action of proceeding furtively, secretly, or imperceptibly
- the state moves by stealth to gather information -- Nat Hentoff
- the state of being furtive or unobtrusive
- an aircraft-design characteristic consisting of oblique angular construction and avoidance of vertical surfaces that is intended to produce a very weak radar return
- intended not to attract attention : stealthy
stealthy ['stel-thē] -adj, adv, n
- slow, deliberate, and secret in action or character
- intended to escape observation : furtive
- designed to produce a very weak radar return
steam ['stēm] -n
- a vapor arising from a heated substance
- the invisible vapor into which water is converted when heated to the boiling point
- the mist formed by the condensation on cooling of water vapor
- water vapor kept under pressure so as to supply energy for heating, cooking, or mechanical work
- the power so generated
- active force : power, momentum
- got there under his own steam
- sales began to pick up steam
- normal force
- pent-up emotional tension
- needed to let off a little steam
- steamer
- travel by or a trip in a steamer
- to give out as fumes : exhale
- to apply steam to
- to expose to the action of steam (as for softening or cooking)
- to rise or pass off as vapor
- to give off steam or vapor
- to move or travel by the agency of steam
- to move or proceed with energy or force
- to be angry : boil
- steam ing over the insult
steam·boat ['stēm-,bōt] -n
- a boat driven by steam power
- a shallow-draft vessel used on inland waterways
steamboat Gothic -n
- an elaborately ornamented architectural style used in homes built in the middle 19th century in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys
steam boiler -n
- a boiler for producing steam
steam chest -n
- the chamber from which steam is distributed to a cylinder of a steam engine
steamed ['stēmd] -adj
- cooked by steam
- angry often used with up
steam engine -n
- an engine driven or worked by steam
- a reciprocating engine having a piston driven in a closed cylinder by steam
steam·er ['stē-mər] -n
- a vessel in which articles are subjected to steam
- a ship propelled by steam
- an engine, machine, or vehicle operated or propelled by steam
- one that steams
- soft-shell clam
steamer rug -n
- a warm covering for the lap and feet esp. of a person sitting on a ship's deck
steamer trunk -n
- a trunk suitable for use in a stateroom of a steamer
- a shallow trunk that may be stowed beneath a berth
steam·fit·ter ['stēm-,fi-tər] -n
- one that installs or repairs equipment (as steam pipes) for heating, ventilating, or refrigerating systems
steam iron -n
- a pressing iron with a compartment holding water that is converted to steam by the iron's heat and emitted through the soleplate onto the fabric being pressed
steam·roll·er ['stēm-,rō-lər] -n
- a steam-driven road roller
- road roller
- a crushing force esp. when ruthlessly applied to overcome opposition
steamroller [-,rōl] -vt
- to overwhelm usu. by greatly superior force
- steamroller the opposition
- to bring or advance by overwhelming force or pressure
- steamroller ed the bill through the legislature
- to move or proceed with irresistible force
steam·ship ['stēm-,ship] -n
- steamer
steamship round -n
- a large beef roast consisting of the whole round with rump and heel
steam shovel -n
- a power shovel operated by steam
- power shovel
steam table -n
- a table having openings to hold containers of cooked food over steam or hot water circulating beneath them
steam turbine -n
- a turbine that is driven by the pressure of steam discharged at high velocity against the turbine vanes
steam up -vt
- to make angry or excited : arouse
steamy ['stē-mē] -adj, adv, n
- consisting of, characterized by, or full of steam
- : intensely or uncomfortably hot: as
- hot and humid
- sensually hot : erotic
stea·rate ['stē-ə-,rāt, 'stir-,āt] -n
- a salt or ester of stearic acid
stea·ric acid [stē-'a-rik-, 'stir-ik-] -n
- a white crystalline fatty acid C 18H 36O 2obtained by saponifying tallow or other hard fats containing stearin
- a commercial mixture of stearic and palmitic acids
stea·rin ['stē-ə-rən, 'stir-ən] -n
- an ester of glycerol and stearic acid
ste·a·tite ['stē-ə-,tīt] -n, adj
- a massive talc having a grayish-green or brown color : soapstone
- an electrically insulating porcelain composed largely of steatite
steato- -comb form
- fat
ste·a·to·py·gia [,stē-a-tə-'pi-j(ē-)ə, -'pī-] -n, adj
- an excessive development of fat on the buttocks that occurs chiefly among women of some African peoples and esp. the Khoisan
ste·at·or·rhea [(,)stē-,a-tə-'rē-ə] -n
- an excess of fat in the stools
ste·at·or·rhoea [(,)stē-,a-tə-'rē-ə] -n
(variant of steatorrhea)
- an excess of fat in the stools
sted·fast ['sted-,fast also -fəst] -adj, adv, n
(variant of steadfast)
- firmly fixed in place : immovable
- not subject to change
- the steadfast doctrine of original sin -- Ellen Glasgow
- firm in belief, determination, or adherence : loyal
- her followers have remained steadfast
steed ['stēd] -n
- horse
- a spirited horse (as for war)
steek ['stēk] -vb
- shut, close
steel ['stēl] -n
- commercial iron that contains carbon in any amount up to about 1.7 percent as an essential alloying constituent, is malleable when under suitable conditions, and is distinguished from cast iron by its malleability and lower carbon content
- : an instrument or implement of or characteristically of steel: as
- a thrusting or cutting weapon
- an instrument (as a fluted round rod with a handle) for sharpening knives
- a piece of steel for striking sparks from flint
- a quality (as hardness of mind or spirit) that suggests steel
- the steel manufacturing industry
- shares of stock in steel companies
- to overlay, point, or edge with steel
- to cause to resemble steel (as in looks or hardness)
- to fill with resolution or determination
- steel ed herself to face the crisis
- made of steel
- of or relating to the production of steel
- resembling steel
steel band -n
- a band of steel drums
steel blue -n
- a grayish blue
- any of the blue colors assumed by steel at various temperatures in tempering
steel drum -n
- a musical instrument orig. developed in Trinidad that is played by hammering raised and tuned portions of the bottom of an oil drum
steel engraving -n
- the art or process of engraving on steel
- an impression taken from an engraved steel plate
steel guitar -n
- hawaiian guitar
- pedal steel
steel·head ['stēl-,hed] -n
- an anadromous rainbow trout called also steelhead trout
steel·ie ['stē-lē] -n
- a playing marble made of steel
steel·mak·er ['stēl-,mā-kər] -n
- a manufacturer of steel
steeltrap ['stēl-'trap] -adj
- quick, incisive
steel wool -n
- an abrasive material composed of long fine steel shavings and used esp. for scouring and burnishing
steel·work ['stēl-,wərk] -n
- work in steel
- an establishment where steel is made
steel·work·er [-,wər-kər] -n
- a person who works in steel and esp. in the manufacturing of it
steely ['stē-lē] -adj, n
- resembling or suggesting steel (as in hardness, color, strength, or coldness)
- made of steel
steel·yard ['stēl-,yärd, 'stil-yərd] -n
- a balance in which an object to be weighed is suspended from the shorter arm of a lever and the weight determined by moving a counterpoise along a graduated scale on the longer arm until equilibrium is attained
steen·bok ['stēn-,bäk, 'stān-] -n
- a small slender antelope ( Raphicerus campestris) with long legs that inhabits chiefly grasslands of eastern and southern Africa
steep ['stēp] -adj, adv, n
- lofty, high used chiefly of a sea
- making a large angle with the plane of the horizon
- mounting or falling precipitously
- the stairs were very steep
- being or characterized by a rapid and intensive decline or increase
- extremely or excessively high
- a precipitous place
- to soak in a liquid at a temperature under the boiling point (as for softening, bleaching, or extracting an essence)
- to cover with or plunge into a liquid (as in bathing, rinsing, or soaking)
- to saturate with or subject thoroughly to (some strong or pervading influence)
- practices steep ed in tradition
- to undergo the process of soaking in a liquid
- the state or process of being steeped
- a bath or solution in which something is steeped
steep·en ['stē-pən, -pᵊm] -vb
- to become steeper
- to make steeper
stee·ple ['stē-pəl] -n, adj
- a tall structure usu. having a small spire at the top and surmounting a church tower
- a whole church tower
stee·ple·bush ['stē-pəl-,bu̇sh] -n
- hardhack
stee·ple·chase [-,chās] -n
- a horse race across country
- a horse race over a closed course with obstacles (as hedges and walls)
- a footrace of usu. 3000 meters over hurdles and a water jump
stee·ple·jack [-,jak] -n
- a person whose work is building smokestacks, towers, or steeples or climbing up the outside of such structures to paint and make repairs
steer ['stir] -n
- a male bovine animal and esp. a domestic ox ( Bos taurus) castrated before sexual maturity
- an ox less than four years old
- to control the course of : direct
- to guide by mechanical means (as a rudder)
- to set and hold to (a course)
- to direct the course (as of a ship or automobile)
- to pursue a course of action
- to be subject to steering
- a hint as to procedure : tip
steer ['stər] -vb, n
(variant of stir)
- to cause an esp. slight movement or change of position of
- to disturb the quiet of : agitate often used with up
- the bear stirred up the bees
- to disturb the relative position of the particles or parts of esp. by a continued circular movement often used with up
- stirred up mud from the lake bottom
- to mix by or as if by stirring often used with in
- bestir, exert
- to bring into notice or debate : raise often used with up
- to rouse to activity : evoke strong feelings in
- music that stir s the emotions
- to call forth (as a memory) : evoke
- provoke
- stir a storm of controversy
- to make a slight movement
- the leaves were barely stirring
- to begin to move (as in rousing)
- to shift to another location : budge
- haven't stirred since I arrived
- to begin to be active
- the factory stirred to life
- to be active or busy
- not a creature was stirring -- Clement Moore
- to pass an implement through a substance with a circular movement
- to be able to be stirred
- a state of disturbance, agitation, or brisk activity
- widespread notice and discussion : impression
- the book caused quite a stir
- a slight movement
- a stirring movement
- prison
steer·age ['stir-ij] -n
- the act or practice of steering
- direction
- a section of inferior accommodations in a passenger ship for passengers paying the lowest fares
steer·age·way [-,wā] -n
- a rate of motion sufficient to make a ship or boat respond to movements of the rudder
steering column -n
- the column that encloses the connections to the steering gear of a vehicle (as an automobile)
steering committee -n
- a managing or directing committee
- a committee that determines the order in which business will be taken up in a U.S. legislative body
steering gear -n
- a mechanism (as a gear train) by which something is steered
steering wheel -n
- a handwheel by means of which one steers
steers·man ['stirz-mən] -n
- one who steers : helmsman
steeve ['stēv] -vt
- to stow esp. in a ship's hold
- to incline upward at an angle with the horizon or the line of the keel
- to set (a bowsprit) at an upward inclination
steg·a·nog·ra·phy [,ste-gə-'nä-grə-fē] -n, adj
- cryptography
- the art or practice of concealing a message, image, or file within another message, image, or file
stego·saur ['ste-gə-,sȯr] -n
- any of a suborder (Stegosauria) of quadrupedal ornithischian herbivorous dinosaurs chiefly of the Jurassic with strongly developed dorsal plates and spikes
stego·sau·rus [,ste-gə-'sȯr-əs] -n
- any of a genus ( Stegosaurus) of stegosaurs known from the Upper Jurassic rocks esp. of Colorado and Wyoming
stein ['stīn] -n
- a large mug (as of earthenware) used esp. for beer
- the quantity of beer that a stein holds
ste·la ['stē-lə] -n
- a usu. carved or inscribed stone slab or pillar used for commemorative purposes
ste·lar ['stē-lər, -,lär] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting a stele
stele ['stēl, 'stē-lē] -n
- the usu. cylindrical central vascular portion of the axis of a vascular plant
stel·la ['ste-lə] -n
- an experimental international coin based on the metric system that was issued by the U.S. in 1879 and 1880 and was worth about four dollars
stel·lar ['ste-lər] -adj
- of or relating to the stars : astral
- composed of stars
- of or relating to a theatrical or film star
- principal, leading
- outstanding
stellar wind -n
- plasma continuously ejected from a star's surface into surrounding space
stel·late ['ste-,lāt] -adj
- resembling a star (as in shape)
Stel·ler's jay ['ste-lərz, 'shte-] -n
- a jay ( Cyanocitta stelleri) of western No. America with a high crest and black and dark blue plumage
Steller's sea cow -n
- an extinct very large sirenian ( Hydrodamalis gigas) formerly common near the Asian coast of the Bering Sea
stem ['stem] -n
- the main trunk of a plant
- a primary plant axis that develops buds and shoots instead of roots
- a plant part (as a branch, petiole, or stipe) that supports another (as a leaf or fruit)
- the complete fruiting stalk of a banana plant with its bananas
- the main upright member at the bow of a ship
- the bow or prow of a ship
- a line of ancestry : stock
- a fundamental line from which others have arisen
- the part of an inflected word that remains after the inflected part is removed
- strength is the stem of strengths
- root
- : something held to resemble a plant stem: as
- a main or heavy stroke of a letter
- the short perpendicular line extending from the head of a musical note
- the part of a tobacco pipe from the bowl outward
- the cylindrical support of a piece of stemware (as a goblet)
- a shaft of a watch used for winding
- to make headway against (as an adverse tide, current, or wind)
- to check or go counter to (something adverse)
- to remove the stem from
- to make stems for (as artificial flowers)
- to occur or develop as a consequence : have or trace an origin
- her success stem s from hard work
- to stop or dam up (as a river)
- to stop or check by or as if by damming
- stanch
- to turn (a ski) in stemming
- to restrain or check oneself
- to become checked or stanched
- to slide the heel of one ski or of both skis outward usu. in making or preparing to make a turn
- check, dam
- an act or instance of stemming on skis
stem cell -n
- an unspecialized cell that gives rise to differentiated cells
- hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow
stem christie -n
- a turn in skiing begun by stemming a ski and completed by bringing the skis parallel into a christie
stem·less ['stem-ləs] -adj
- having no stem : acaulescent
stem·ma ['ste-mə] -n, adj
- a simple eye present in some insects
- a scroll (as among the ancient Romans) containing a genealogical list
- a tree showing the relationships of the manuscripts of a literary work
stemmed -adj
- having a stem usu. used in combination
stem·my ['ste-mē] -adj
- abounding in stems
- having a bitter aftertaste
stem rust -n
- a rust attacking the stem of a plant
- a destructive disease esp. of wheat caused by a rust fungus ( Puccinia graminis) which produces reddish-brown lesions in the uredospore stage and black lesions in the teliospore stage and has any of several plants of the barberry family as an intermediate host
- the fungus causing stem rust
stem turn -n
- a skiing turn executed by stemming an outside ski
stem·ware ['stem-,wer] -n
- glass hollowware mounted on a stem
stemwind·er [-,wīn-dər] -n
- a stem-winding watch
- one that is first-rate of its kind
- a stirring speech
stemwind·ing [-diŋ] -adj
- wound by an inside mechanism turned by the knurled knob on the stem
Sten ['sten] -n
- a light simple 9-millimeter British submachine gun
sten- -comb form
- close : narrow : little
stench ['stench] -n, adj
- stink
- a characteristic repugnant quality
sten·cil ['sten(t)-səl] -n
- an impervious material (as a sheet of paper, thin wax, or woven fabric) perforated with lettering or a design through which a substance (as ink, paint, or metallic powder) is forced onto a surface to be printed
- something (as a pattern, design, or print) that is produced by means of a stencil
- a printing process that uses a stencil
stencil [-s(ə-)liŋ] -vt, n
- to mark or paint with a stencil
- to produce by stencil
steno ['ste-(,)nō] -n
- stenographer
- stenography
ste·nog·ra·pher [stə-'nä-grə-fər] -n
- a writer of shorthand
- a person employed chiefly to take and transcribe dictation
ste·nog·ra·phy [-fē] -n, adj, adv
- the art or process of writing in shorthand
- shorthand esp. written from dictation or oral discourse
- the making of shorthand notes and subsequent transcription of them
steno·ha·line [,ste-nō-'hā-,līn, -'ha-,līn] -adj
- unable to withstand wide variation in salinity of surrounding water
ste·nosed [stə-'nōzd, -'nōst] -adj
- affected with stenosis
ste·no·sis [stə-'nō-səs] -n, adj
- a narrowing or constriction of the diameter of a bodily passage or orifice
steno·ther·mal [,ste-nə-'thər-məl] -adj, n
- capable of surviving over only a narrow range of temperatures
steno·top·ic [,ste-nə-'tä-pik] -adj
- having a narrow range of adaptability to changes in environmental conditions
steno·type ['ste-nə-,tīp] -n, vt
- a small machine somewhat like a typewriter used to record speech by means of phonograms
stent ['stent] -n
- a short narrow metal or plastic tube often in the form of a mesh that is inserted into the lumen of an anatomical vessel (as an artery or a bile duct) esp. to keep a previously blocked passageway open
sten·tor ['sten-,tȯr, -tər] -n
- a person having a loud voice
- any of a widely distributed genus ( Stentor) of ciliate protozoans having a trumpet-shaped body with the mouth at the broad end and with the narrow end often attached to the substrate
sten·to·ri·an [sten-'tȯr-ē-ən] -adj
- extremely loud
step ['step] -n, adj
- : a rest for the foot in ascending or descending: as
- one of a series of structures consisting of a riser and a tread
- a ladder rung
- an advance or movement made by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere
- a combination of foot or foot and body movements constituting a unit or a repeated pattern
- manner of walking : stride
- footprint
- the sound of a footstep
- the space passed over in one step
- a short distance
- the height of one stair
- course, way
- directed his step s toward the river
- a degree, grade, or rank in a scale
- a stage in a process
- was guided through every step of my career
- a frame on a ship designed to receive an upright shaft
- a block supporting the heel of a mast
- an action, proceeding, or measure often occurring as one in a series
- taking step s to improve the situation
- a steplike offset or part usu. occurring in a series
- an interval in a musical scale
- step aerobics
- a slight lead in or as if in a race
- has a step on the competition
- to move by raising the foot and bringing it down elsewhere or by moving each foot in succession
- dance
- to go on foot : walk
- advance, proceed
- to be on one's way : leave often used with along
- to move briskly
- to press down with the foot
- to come as if at a single step
- to take by moving the feet in succession
- to move (the foot) in any direction : set
- the first man to step foot on the moon
- to traverse on foot
- to go through the steps of : perform
- to make erect by fixing the lower end in a step
- to measure by steps
- to provide with steps
- to make steps in
- to construct or arrange in or as if in steps
- craggy peaks with terraces stepped up the sides -- Time
step- -comb form
- related by virtue of a remarriage (as of a parent) and not by blood
step aerobics -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- aerobics that involves repeatedly stepping on and off a raised platform called also step training
step aside -vi
- step down
step·broth·er ['step-,brə-thər] -n
- a son of one's stepparent by a former partner
stepbystep [,step-bī-'step] -adj or adv
- marked by successive degrees usu. of limited extent : gradual
step·child ['step-,chī(-ə)ld] -n
- one that fails to receive proper care or attention
- is no longer a stepchild in the family of nations -- F. R. Smith
- a child of one's wife or husband by a former partner
step dance -n
- a dance in which steps are emphasized rather than gesture or posture
step·daugh·ter ['step-,dȯ-tər] -n
- a daughter of one's wife or husband by a former partner
stepdown ['step-,dau̇n] -n
- a decrease or reduction in size or amount
step down ['step-,dau̇n] -vi, adj
- retire, resign
- to lower (a voltage) by means of a transformer
- to decrease or reduce esp. by one or more steps
step·fam·i·ly ['step-,fam-lē, -,fa-mə-] -n
- a family in which there is a stepparent
step·fa·ther ['step-,fä-thər] -n
- the husband of one's mother when distinct from one's natural or legal father
step function -n
- a mathematical function of a single real variable that remains constant within each of a series of adjacent intervals but changes in value from one interval to the next
steph·a·no·tis [,ste-fə-'nō-təs] -n
- any of a genus ( Stephanotis,esp. S. floribunda) of Old World tropical woody vines of the milkweed family with fragrant white waxy flowers having a tubular corolla terminating in five lobes
stepin ['step-,in] -n, adj
- : an article of clothing put on by being stepped into: as
- a shoe resembling but usu. having a higher vamp than a pump and having concealed elastic to adjust the fit
- short panties for women usu. used in pl.
step in -vi
- to intervene in an affair or dispute
- to act as a replacement
- to make a brief informal visit
step·lad·der ['step-,la-dər] -n
- a ladder that has broad flat steps and two pairs of legs connected by a hinge at the top and that opens at the bottom to become freestanding
step·moth·er [-,mə-thər] -n
- the wife of one's father when distinct from one's natural or legal mother
step out -vi
- to go away from a place usu. for a short distance and for a short time
- to go or march at a vigorous or increased pace
- die
- to lead an active social life
- to be unfaithful usu. used with on
- had been stepping out on his wife
step·par·ent ['step-,per-ənt] -n
- a person who is a stepmother or stepfather
step·par·ent·ing [-ən-tiŋ] -n
- parenting by a stepparent
steppe ['step] -n
- one of the vast usu. level and treeless tracts in southeastern Europe or Asia
- arid land with xerophilous vegetation found usu. in regions of extreme temperature range and loess soil
steppedup ['stept-'əp] -adj
- increased in intensity
step·per ['ste-pər] -n
- one (as a fast horse or a dancer) that steps
stepper motor -n
- a motor whose driveshaft rotates in small steps rather than continuously called also stepping motor
step·pingstone ['ste-piŋ-,stōn] -n
- a stone on which to step (as in crossing a stream)
- a means of progress or advancement
step·sis·ter ['step-,sis-tər] -n
- a daughter of one's stepparent by a former partner
step·son [-,sən] -n
- a son of one's husband or wife by a former partner
step stool -n
- a stool with one or two steps that often fold away beneath the seat
step turn -n
- a skiing turn executed in a downhill traverse by lifting the upper ski from the ground, placing it in the desired direction, weighting it, and bringing the other ski parallel
stepup ['step-,əp] -n
- an increase or advance in size or amount
step up ['step-,əp] -vt, adj
- to increase (a voltage) by means of a transformer
- to increase, augment, or advance esp. by one or more steps
- to come forward
- stepped up to claim responsibility
- to succeed in meeting a challenge (as by increased effort or improved performance)
- to undergo an increase
- to receive a promotion
step·wise [-,wīz] -adj
- marked by or proceeding in steps
- moving by step to adjacent musical tones
ster -abbr
- sterling
ster·co·ra·ceous [,stər-kə-'rā-shəs] -adj
- relating to, being, or containing feces
stere- -comb form
- solid : solid body
- stereoscopic
- having or dealing with three dimensions of space
ste·reo ['ster-ē-,ō, 'stir-] -n
- stereotype
- stereophonic reproduction
- a stereophonic sound system
stereo -adj
- stereoscopic
- produced by or as if by means of a stereotype
- stereophonic
ste·reo·chem·is·try [,ster-ē-ō-'ke-mə-strē, ,stir-] -n, adj
- a branch of chemistry that deals with the spatial arrangement of atoms and groups in molecules
- the spatial arrangement of atoms and groups in a compound and its relation to the properties of the compound
ste·reo·gram ['ster-ē-ə-,gram, 'stir-] -n
- a diagram or picture representing objects with an impression of solidity or relief
- stereograph
ste·reo·graph [-,graf] -n, vt
- a pair of stereoscopic pictures or a picture composed of two superposed stereoscopic images that gives a three-dimensional effect when viewed with a stereoscope or special spectacles
ste·reo·graph·ic [,ster-ē-ə-'gra-fik] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being a delineation of the form of a solid body (as the earth) on a plane
ste·reo·iso·mer [,ster-ē-ō-'ī-sə-mər, ,stir-] -n, adj
- any of a group of isomers in which atoms are linked in the same order but differ in their spatial arrangement
ste·re·ol·o·gy [,ster-ē-'ä-lə-jē, ,stir-] -n, adj, adv
- a branch of science concerned with inferring the three-dimensional properties of objects or matter ordinarily observed two-dimensionally
ste·reo·mi·cro·scope [-'mī-krə-,skōp] -n, adj, adv
- a microscope having a set of optics for each eye to make an object appear in three dimensions
ste·reo·phon·ic [,ster-ē-ə-'fä-nik, ,stir-] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or constituting sound reproduction involving the use of separated microphones and two transmission channels to achieve the sound separation of a live hearing
ste·reo·pho·tog·ra·phy [,ster-ē-ō-fə-'tä-grə-fē, ,stir-] -n, adj
- stereoscopic photography
ste·re·op·sis [,ster-ē-'äp-səs, ,stir-] -n
- stereoscopic vision
ste·re·op·ti·con [-'äp-ti-kən] -n
- a projector for transparent slides often made double so as to produce dissolving views
- stereoscope
ste·reo·reg·u·lar [,ster-ē-ō-'re-gyə-lər, ,stir-] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or involving stereochemical regularity in the repeating units of a polymeric structure
ste·reo·scope ['ster-ē-ə-,skōp, 'stir-] -n
- an optical instrument with two eyepieces for helping the observer to combine the images of two pictures taken from points of view a little way apart and thus to get the effect of solidity or depth
ste·reo·scop·ic [,ster-ē-ə-'skä-pik, ,stir-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to stereoscopy or the stereoscope
- characterized by stereoscopy
ste·re·os·co·py [,ster-ē-'äs-kə-pē, ,stir-; 'ster-ē-ə-,skō-pē, 'stir-] -n
- a science that deals with stereoscopic effects and methods
- the seeing of objects in three dimensions
ste·reo·spe·cif·ic [,ster-ē-ō-spi-'si-fik, ,stir-] -adj, adv, n
- being, produced by, or involved in a stereochemically specific process
- many enzymes act as stereospecific catalysts
ste·reo·tac·tic [,ster-ē-ə-'tak-tik, ,stir-] -adj, adv
- involving, being, utilizing, or used in a surgical technique for precisely directing the tip of a delicate instrument (as a needle) or beam of radiation in three planes using coordinates provided by medical imaging in order to reach a specific locus in the body
ste·reo·tax·ic [,ster-ē-ə-'tak-sik, ,stir-] -adj, adv
- stereotactic
ste·reo·type ['ster-ē-ə-,tīp, 'stir-] -vt, n
- to make a stereotype from
- to repeat without variation : make hackneyed
- to develop a mental stereotype about
stereotype [,ster-ē-ə-'ti-pi-kəl] -n, adj, adv
- a plate cast from a printing surface
- something conforming to a fixed or general pattern
- a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment
ste·reo·typed -adj
- lacking originality or individuality
ste·reo·ty·py ['ster-ē-ə-,tī-pē, 'stir-] -n
- frequent almost mechanical repetition of the same posture, movement, or form of speech (as in schizophrenia)
ste·ric ['ster-ik, 'stir-] -adj, adv
- relating to or involving the arrangement of atoms in space : spatial
ste·rig·ma [stə-'rig-mə] -n
- one of the slender stalks at the top of the basidium of some fungi from the tips of which the basidiospores are formed
- a stalk or filament that bears conidia or spermatia
ster·il·ant ['ster-ə-lənt] -n
- a sterilizing agent
ster·ile ['ster-əl, chiefly Brit -,ī(-ə)l] -adj, adv, n
- failing to bear or incapable of producing fruit or spores
- failing to produce or incapable of producing offspring
- incapable of germinating
- neither perfect nor pistillate
- unproductive of vegetation
- free from living organisms and esp. microorganisms
- lacking in stimulating emotional or intellectual quality : lifeless
ster·il·ize ['ster-ə-,līz] -vt, n
- : to make sterile: as
- to cause (land) to become unfruitful
- to deprive of the power of reproducing
- surgically sterilize cats and dogs
- to make incapable of germination
- to make powerless or useless usu. by restraining from a normal function, relation, or participation
- to free from living microorganisms
ster·ling ['stər-liŋ] -n
- British money
- sterling silver or articles of it
sterling -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or calculated in terms of British sterling
- payable in sterling
- having a fixed standard of purity usu. defined legally as represented by an alloy of 925 parts of silver with 75 parts of copper
- made of sterling silver
- conforming to the highest standard
- a sterling record of achievement
sterling area -n
- a former group of countries with currencies tied to the British pound sterling
stern ['stərn] -adj, adv, n
- having a definite hardness or severity of nature or manner : austere
- expressive of severe displeasure : harsh
- forbidding or gloomy in appearance
- inexorable
- sturdy, stout
- the rear end of a boat
- a hinder or rear part : the last or latter part
ster·nal ['stər-nᵊl] -adj
- of or relating to the sternum
stern chase -n
- a chase in which a pursuing ship follows in the path of another
stern chaser -n
- a gun so placed as to be able to fire astern at a pursuing ship
stern·fore·most ['stərn-'fȯr-,mōst] -adv
- with the stern in advance : backward
ster·nite ['stər-,nīt] -n
- the ventral part or shield of a somite of an arthropod
- the chitinous plate that forms the ventral surface of an abdominal or occas. a thoracic segment of an insect
stern·most ['stərn-,mōst] -adj
- farthest astern
ster·no·cos·tal [,stər-nō-'käs-tᵊl] -adj
- of, relating to, or situated between the sternum and ribs
stern·post ['stərn-,pōst] -n
- the principal member at the stern of a ship extending from keel to deck
stern sheets -n pl
- the space in the stern of an open boat not occupied by the thwarts
ster·num ['stər-nəm] -n
- a compound ventral bone or cartilage of most vertebrates other than fishes that connects the ribs or the shoulder girdle or both and in humans consists of the manubrium, gladiolus, and xiphoid process called also breastbone
ster·nu·ta·tion [,stər-nyə-'tā-shən] -n
- the act, fact, or noise of sneezing
ster·nu·ta·tor ['stər-nyə-,tā-tər] -n
- an agent that induces sneezing and often lacrimation and vomiting
stern·ward ['stərn-wərd] -adv
- aft
stern·way ['stərn-,wā] -n
- movement of a ship backward or with stern foremost
sternwheel·er [-'hwē-lər, -'wē-] -n
- a steamboat driven by a single paddle wheel at the stern
ste·roid ['stir-,ȯid also 'ster-] -n, adj
- any of various compounds containing a 17-carbon 4-ring system and including the sterols and numerous hormones (as anabolic steroids or corticosteroids) and glycosides
ste·roido·gen·e·sis [stə-,rȯi-də-'je-nə-səs; ,stir-,ȯid- also ,ster-] -n, adj
- synthesis of steroids
ste·rol ['stir-,ȯl, 'ster-, -,ōl] -n
- any of various solid steroid alcohols (as cholesterol) widely distributed in animal and plant lipids
ster·tor ['stər-tər, -,tȯr] -n
- the act or fact of producing a snoring sound : snoring
ster·to·rous ['stər-tə-rəs] -adj, adv
- characterized by a harsh snoring or gasping sound
stet ['stet] -vt
- to direct retention of (a word or passage previously ordered to be deleted or omitted from a manuscript or printer's proof) by annotating usu. with the word stet
stetho·scope ['ste-thə-,skōp also -thə-] -n, adj
- a medical instrument for detecting sounds produced in the body that are conveyed to the ears of the listener through rubber tubing connected with a piece placed upon the area to be examined
Stet·son ['stet-sən] -trademark
- used for a broad-brimmed high-crowned felt hat
ste·ve·dore ['stē-və-,dȯr also 'stēv-,] -n
- one who works at or is responsible for loading and unloading ships in port
stevedore -vb
- to handle (cargo) as a stevedore
- to load or unload the cargo of (a ship) in port
- to work as a stevedore
stevedore knot -n
- a stopper knot similar to a figure eight knot but with one or more extra turns called also stevedore's knot
Ste·ven·graph ['stē-vən-,graf] -n
- a woven silk picture
stew ['stü, 'styü] -n
- a utensil used for boiling
- a hot bath
- whorehouse
- a district of bordellos usu. used in pl.
- fish or meat usu. with vegetables prepared by stewing
- a heterogeneous mixture
- a state of heat and congestion
- a state of excitement, worry, or confusion
- to boil slowly or with simmering heat
- to become cooked by stewing
- to swelter esp. from confinement in a hot or stuffy atmosphere
- to be in a state of suppressed agitation, worry, or resentment
- flight attendant
stew·ard ['stü-ərd, 'styü-; 'st(y)u̇rd] -n
- one employed in a large household or estate to manage domestic concerns (as the supervision of servants, collection of rents, and keeping of accounts)
- shop steward
- a fiscal agent
- an employee on a ship, airplane, bus, or train who manages the provisioning of food and attends passengers
- one appointed to supervise the provision and distribution of food and drink in an institution
- one who actively directs affairs : manager
steward -vt
- to act as a steward for : manage
- to perform the duties of a steward
stew·ard·ess ['stü-ər-dəs, 'styü-; 'st(y)u̇r-dəs] -n
- a woman who performs the duties of a steward
- one who attends passengers (as on an airplane)
stew·ard·ship ['stü-ərd-,ship, 'styü-; 'st(y)u̇rd-] -n
- the office, duties, and obligations of a steward
- the conducting, supervising, or managing of something
- the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care
- stewardship of our natural resources
stewed ['stüd] -adj
- drunk
stew·pan ['stü-,pan, 'styü-] -n
- a pan used for stewing
stg -abbr
- sterling
stib·nite ['stib-,nīt] -n
- a mineral that consists of the trisulfide of antimony and occurs in orthorhombic lead-gray crystals of metallic luster or in massive form
sticho·myth·ia [,sti-kə-'mi-thē-ə] -n, adj
- dialogue esp. of altercation or dispute delivered by two actors in alternating lines (as in classical Greek drama)
stick ['stik] -n, adj
- : a woody piece or part of a tree or shrub: as
- a usu. dry or dead severed shoot, twig, or slender branch
- a cut or broken branch or piece of wood gathered for fuel or construction material
- : a long slender piece of wood or metal: as
- a club or staff used as a weapon
- walking stick
- an implement used for striking or propelling an object in a game
- something used to force compliance
- a baton symbolizing an office or dignity
- a person entitled to bear such a baton
- a piece of the materials composing something (as a building)
- : any of various implements resembling a stick in shape, origin, or use: as
- composing stick
- an airplane lever operating the elevators and ailerons
- the gearshift lever of an automobile
- something prepared (as by cutting, molding, or rolling) in a relatively long and slender often cylindrical form
- person, chap
- a dull, inert, stiff, or spiritless person
- remote usu. rural districts regarded esp. as backward, dull, or unsophisticated : boondocks
- an herbaceous stalk resembling a woody stick
- mast
- yard
- a piece of furniture
- a number of bombs arranged for release from a bombing plane in a series across a target
- a number of parachutists dropping together
- a marijuana cigarette
- punishment or the threat of punishment used to force compliance or cooperation
- choosing between the carrot and the stick
- criticism, abuse
- to hit or propel (as a hockey puck) with a stick
- to pierce with something pointed : stab
- to kill by piercing
- to push or thrust so as or as if to pierce
- to fasten by thrusting in
- impale
- push, thrust
- to put or set in a specified place or position
- to furnish with things fastened on by or as if by piercing
- to attach by or as if by causing to adhere to a surface
- to compel to pay esp. by trickery
- got stuck with the bar bill
- overcharge
- to halt the movement or action of
- baffle, stump
- cheat, defraud
- to saddle with something disadvantageous or disagreeable
- is still stuck with that lousy car
- to execute (a landing) flawlessly in gymnastics
- : to hold to something firmly by or as if by adhesion:
- to become fixed in place by means of a pointed end
- to become fast by or as if by miring or by gluing or plastering
- to remain in a place, situation, or environment
- to hold fast or adhere resolutely : cling
- to remain effective
- to keep close in a chase or competition
- to become blocked, wedged, or jammed
- balk, scruple
- to find oneself baffled
- to be unable to proceed
- project, protrude
- a thrust with a pointed instrument : stab
- delay, stop
- impediment
- adhesive quality or substance
stick around -vi
- to stay or wait about : linger
stick·ball ['stik-,bȯl] -n
- baseball adapted for play in streets or small areas and using a broomstick and a lightweight ball
stick·er ['sti-kər] -n
- one that pierces with a point
- one that adheres or causes adhesion
- a slip of paper with adhesive back that can be fastened to a surface
sticker price -n
- a manufacturer's suggested retail price that is printed on a sticker and affixed to a new automobile
- the stated cost of something
- a computer with a high sticker price
sticker shock -n
- astonishment and dismay experienced on being informed of a product's unexpectedly high price
stick figure -n
- a drawing showing the head of a human being or animal as a circle and all other parts as straight lines
- a fictional character lacking depth and believability
stick·han·dle ['stik-,han-dᵊl] -vi, n
- to maneuver a puck (as in hockey) or a ball (as in lacrosse) with a stick
sticking plaster -n
- an adhesive plaster esp. for closing superficial wounds
sticking point -n
- an item (as in negotiations) resulting or likely to result in an impasse
stick insect -n
- any of various usu. wingless phasmid insects (esp. family Phasmatidae) with a long cylindrical body resembling a stick
- phasmid
stickinthemud ['stik-ən-thə-,məd] -n
- one who is slow, old-fashioned, or unprogressive
- an old fogy
stick·it ['sti-kət] -adj
- unfinished
- having failed esp. in an intended profession
stick·le ['sti-kəl] -vi
- to contend esp. stubbornly and usu. on insufficient grounds
- to feel scruples : scruple
stick·le·back ['sti-kəl-,bak] -n
- any of a family (Gasterosteidae) of small scaleless bony fishes having two or more free spines in front of the dorsal fin and including marine, anadromous, and freshwater forms
stick·ler ['sti-k(ə-)lər] -n
- one who insists on exactness or completeness in the observance of something
- something that baffles or puzzles : poser, sticker
stick·man ['stik-,man, -mən] -n
- : one who handles a stick: as
- one who supervises the play at a dice table, calls the decisions, and retrieves the dice
- a player in any of various games (as hockey or lacrosse) played with a stick
stick out -vi
- to jut out : project
- to be prominent or conspicuous
- to be persistent (as in a demand or an opinion)
- endure, last often used with it
stick·pin ['stik-,pin] -n
- an ornamental pin
- one worn in a necktie
stick·seed [-,sēd] -n
- any of various weedy herbs (genera Lappulaand Hackelia) of the borage family with bristly adhesive fruit
stick shift -n
- a manually operated gearshift for a motor vehicle usu. mounted on the floor
stick·tight ['stik-,tīt] -n
- bur marigold
sticktoit·ive·ness [stik-'tü-ə-tiv-nəs] -n
- dogged perseverance : tenacity
stick·um ['sti-kəm] -n
- a substance that adheres or causes adhesion
stick·up ['stik-,əp] -n
- a robbery at gunpoint : holdup
stick up -vi
- to stand upright or on end : protrude
- to rob at gunpoint
stick·weed ['stik-,wēd] -n
- any of several plants (as a beggar's-lice) with adhesive seeds
stick·work [-,wərk] -n
- the use of one's stick in offensive and defensive techniques (as in hockey)
sticky ['sti-kē] -adj, adv, n
- adhesive
- viscous, gluey
- coated with a sticky substance
- humid, muggy
- clammy
- tending to stick
- disagreeable, unpleasant
- awkward, stiff
- difficult, problematic
- excessively sentimental : cloying
sticky bun -n
- a spiral-shaped cinnamon roll topped with melted brown sugar and butter
sticky note -n
- a slip of notepaper having an adhesive strip on the back that allows attachment to and removal from a surface
sticky wicket -n
- a difficult or delicate problem or situation
stic·tion ['stik-shən] -n
- the force required to cause one body in contact with another to begin to move
stiff ['stif] -adj, adv, n
- not easily bent : rigid
- lacking in suppleness or flexibility
- impeded in movement used of a mechanism
- a truck's stiff suspension
- drunk
- firm, resolute
- stubborn, unyielding
- proud
- marked by reserve or decorum
- lacking in ease or grace : stilted
- hard fought : pugnacious, sharp
- exerting great force
- forceful, vigorous
- potent
- of a dense or glutinous consistency : thick
- harsh, severe
- arduous, rugged
- not easily heeled over by an external force (as the wind)
- expensive, steep
- in a stiff manner : stiffly
- to an extreme degree : severely
- close enough to the hole for an easy putt in golf
- hit it stiff and tapped it in for an easy birdie
- corpse
- tramp, bum
- a member of the working class
- a blue-collar worker
- person
- a stodgy or excessively decorous person
- flop, failure
- to refuse to pay or tip
- cheat
- stiff ed him in a business deal
- stick
- stiff ed us with the bar bill
- snub
- stiff ed sportswriters after the game
- to fail commercially
- the movie stiff ed at the box office
stiffarm ['stif-,ärm] -vi
- straight-arm
- straight-arm
- to treat with disdain or neglect : slight, snub
- straight-arm
stiff·en ['sti-fən] -vb, n
- to make stiff or stiffer
- to become stiff or stiffer
stiffnecked ['stif-'nekt] -adj
- haughty, stubborn
- formal, stilted
stiff upper lip -n, adj
- a steady and determined attitude or manner in the face of trouble
sti·fle ['stī-fəl] -n
- the joint next above the hock in the hind leg of a quadruped (as a horse or dog) corresponding to the human knee
stifle [-f(ə-)liŋ] -vb, n, adv
- to kill by depriving of oxygen : suffocate
- smother
- muffle
- to cut off (as the voice or breath)
- to withhold from circulation or expression : repress
- deter, discourage
- to become suffocated by or as if by lack of oxygen : smother
stig·ma ['stig-mə] -n, adj
- a scar left by a hot iron : brand
- a mark of shame or discredit : stain
- bore the stigma of cowardice
- an identifying mark or characteristic
- a specific diagnostic sign of a disease
- bodily marks or pains resembling the wounds of the crucified Jesus and sometimes accompanying religious ecstasy
- petechia
- a small spot, scar, or opening on a plant or animal
- the usu. apical part of the pistil of a flower which receives the pollen grains and on which they germinate
stig·mas·ter·ol [stig-'mas-tə-,rȯl, -,rōl] -n
- a crystalline sterol C 29H 48O obtained esp. from soybean oil
stig·mat·ic [stig-'ma-tik] -n
- one marked with stigmata
stigmatic [-ti-k(ə-)lē] -adj, adv
- having or conveying a social stigma
- of or relating to a stigma
- of or relating to supernatural stigmata
- anastigmatic used esp. of a bundle of light rays intersecting at a single point
stig·ma·tist ['stig-mə-tist, stig-'mä-] -n
- stigmatic
stig·ma·tize ['stig-mə-,tīz] -vt, n
- brand
- to describe or identify in opprobrious terms
- to mark with stigmata
stil·bene ['stil-,bēn] -n
- an aromatic hydrocarbon C 14H 12used as a phosphor and in making dyes
- a compound derived from stilbene
stil·bes·trol [stil-'bes-,trȯl, -,trōl] -n
- diethylstilbestrol
stil·bite ['stil-,bīt] -n
- a mineral consisting of a hydrous silicate of aluminum, calcium, and sodium and often occurring in sheaflike aggregations of crystals
stile ['stī(-ə)l] -n
- a step or set of steps for passing over a fence or wall
- turnstile
- one of the vertical members in a frame or panel into which the secondary members are fitted
sti·let·to [stə-'le-(,)tō] -n
- a slender dagger with a blade thick in proportion to its breadth
- a pointed instrument for piercing holes for eyelets or embroidery
- stiletto heel
- a shoe with a stiletto heel
stiletto heel -n
- a high thin heel on women's shoes that is narrower than a spike heel
still ['stil] -adj, n
- devoid of or abstaining from motion
- sedentary
- not effervescent
- of, relating to, or being a static photograph as contrasted with a motion picture
- designed for taking still photographs
- engaged in taking still photographs
- uttering no sound : quiet
- subdued, muted
- calm, tranquil
- free from noise or turbulence
- to become motionless or silent : quiet
- allay, calm
- to put an end to : settle
- to arrest the motion of
- silence
- without motion
- always, continually
- in a progressive manner : increasingly
- used as a function word to indicate the continuance of an action or condition
- drink it while it's still hot
- in spite of that : nevertheless
- those who take the greatest care still make mistakes
- even
- a still more difficult problem
- yet
- has still to be recognized
- quiet, silence
- a static photograph
- a photograph of actors or scenes of a motion picture for publicity or documentary purposes
- distill
- distillery
- apparatus used in distillation comprising either the chamber in which the vaporization is carried out or the entire equipment
still alarm -n
- a fire alarm transmitted (as by telephone call) without sounding the signal apparatus
still and all -adv
- nevertheless, still
still·birth ['stil-,bərth, -'bərth] -n
- the birth of a dead fetus
still·born [-'bȯrn] -adj, n
- dead at birth
- failing from the start : abortive, unsuccessful
stillhunt [-,hənt] -vi
- to ambush or stalk a quarry
- to pursue game noiselessly usu. without a dog
- to lie in wait for : approach by stealth
still hunt -n
- a quiet pursuing or ambushing of game
still less -conj
- much less, let alone
- no living person...seemed to notice him, still less to expect him -- Thomas Hardy
still life -n
- a picture consisting predominantly of inanimate objects
- the category of graphic arts concerned with inanimate subject matter
still·man ['stil-mən] -n
- one who owns or operates a still
still·room ['stil-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n
- a room connected with the kitchen where liqueurs, preserves, and cakes are kept and beverages (as tea) are prepared
still water -n
- a part of a stream where no current is visible
stil·ly ['stil-lē] -adv
- in a calm manner : quietly
stilly ['sti-lē] -adj
- still, quiet
stilt ['stilt] -n
- one of two poles each with a rest or strap for the foot used to elevate the wearer above the ground in walking
- a pile or post serving as one of the supports of a structure above ground or water level
- any of several very long-legged 3-toed shorebirds (genera Himantopusand Cladorhynchus) that are related to the avocets, frequent inland ponds and marshes, and nest in small colonies
- to raise on or as if on stilts
stilt·ed ['stil-təd] -adj, adv, n
- pompous, lofty
- formal, stiff
- having the curve beginning at some distance above the impost
Stil·ton ['stil-tᵊn] -n
- a blue-veined cheese with wrinkled rind made of whole cows' milk enriched with cream
stime ['stīm] -n
- glimmer
- glimpse
stim·u·lant ['stim-yə-lənt] -n, adj
- an agent (as a drug) that produces a temporary increase of the functional activity or efficiency of an organism or any of its parts
- stimulus
- an alcoholic beverage not used technically
stim·u·late [-,lāt] -vb, n, adj
- to excite to activity or growth or to greater activity : animate, arouse
- to function as a physiological stimulus to
- to arouse or affect by a stimulant (as a drug)
- to act as a stimulant or stimulus
stim·u·lus ['stim-yə-ləs] -n
- : something that rouses or incites to activity: as
- incentive
- stimulant
- an agent (as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)
sting ['stiŋ] -vb, adv
- : to prick painfully: as
- to pierce or wound with a poisonous or irritating process
- to affect with sharp quick pain or smart
- to cause to suffer acutely
- overcharge, cheat
- to wound one with or as if with a sting
- to feel a keen burning pain or smart
- to cause such pain
- the act of stinging
- the thrust of a stinger into the flesh
- a wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging
- stinger
- a sharp or stinging element, force, or quality
- an elaborate confidence game
- such a game worked by undercover police in order to trap criminals
sting·a·ree ['stiŋ-ə-rē also 'stiŋ-rē] -n
- stingray
sting·er ['stiŋ-ər] -n
- one that stings
- a sharp blow or remark
- a sharp organ (as of a bee, scorpion, or stingray) that is usu. connected with a poison gland or otherwise adapted to wound by piercing and injecting a poison
- a cocktail usu. consisting of brandy and white creme de menthe
stinging nettle -n
- nettle
- a Eurasian nettle ( Urtica dioica) widely naturalized in No. America that has numerous hairs extremely irritating to the skin
sting·less ['stiŋ-ləs] -adj
- having no sting or stinger
sting·ray [-,rā] -n
- any of numerous rays (as of the family Dasyatidae) with one or more large sharp barbed dorsal spines near the base of the whiplike tail capable of inflicting severe wounds
stin·gy ['stin-jē] -adj, adv, n
- not generous or liberal : sparing or scant in using, giving, or spending
- meanly scanty or small
stink ['stiŋk] -vi, adj
- to emit a strong offensive odor
- to be offensive
- the election stank of corruption
- to be in bad repute
- to possess something to an offensive degree
- to be extremely bad or unpleasant
- a strong offensive odor : stench
- a public outcry against something : fuss
- made a big stink when asked to leave
stink·ard ['stiŋ-kərd] -n
- a mean or contemptible person
stink bomb -n
- a small bomb charged usu. with chemicals that gives off a foul odor on bursting
stink·bug ['stiŋk-,bəg] -n
- any of various hemipterous bugs (esp. family Pentatomidae) that emit a disagreeable odor
stink·er ['stiŋ-kər] -n
- an offensive or contemptible person
- one that stinks
- something of very poor quality
- dud
- any of several large petrels that have an offensive odor
- something extremely difficult
- the examination was a real stinker
stink·horn ['stiŋk-,hȯrn] -n
- any of various fetid basidiomycetous fungi (order Phallales, esp. Phallus impudicus) having spores dispersed by insects
stinking -adj, adv
- strong and offensive to the sense of smell
- offensively drunk
- contemptible, lousy often used as an intensive
- the whole stinking affair
- to an extreme degree
stinking smut -n
- bunt
stink·pot ['stiŋk-,pät] -n
- an earthen jar filled with fetid material and formerly sometimes thrown as a stink bomb on the deck of an enemy ship
- a musk turtle ( Sternotherus odoratus) of the U.S. and Canada
- stinker
- motorboat
stink up -vt
- to cause to stink or be filled with a stench
stink·weed ['stiŋk-,wēd] -n
- : any of various strong-scented or fetid plants: as
- pennycress
- jimsonweed
stink·wood [-,wu̇d] -n
- any of several trees with a wood of unpleasant odor
- a southern African tree ( Ocotea bullata) of the laurel family yielding a hard strong wood used in cabinetmaking
- the wood of a stinkwood
stint ['stint] -vb, n
- stop, desist
- to be sparing or frugal
- not stint ing with their praise
- to put an end to : stop
- to limit within certain boundaries
- to restrict with respect to a share or allowance
- stint ed herself of luxuries
- a definite quantity of work assigned
- a period of time spent at a particular activity
- served a brief stint as a waiter
- restraint, limitation
- any of several small sandpipers (genus Calidris)
stipe ['stīp] -n, adj
- : a usu. short stalk of a plant or fungus: as
- the stem supporting the cap of a fungus
- a part that is similar to a stipe and connects the holdfast and blade of a frondose alga
- the petiole of a fern frond
- a prolongation of the receptacle beneath the ovary of a seed plant
sti·pend ['stī-,pend, -pənd] -n
- a fixed sum of money paid periodically for services or to defray expenses
sti·pen·di·ary [stī-'pen-dē-,er-ē] -n
- one who receives a stipend
stipendiary -adj
- receiving or compensated by wages or salary
- of or relating to a stipend
stip·ple ['sti-pəl] -vt, n
- to engrave by means of dots and flicks
- to make by small short touches (as of paint or ink) that together produce an even or softly graded shadow
- to apply (as paint) by repeated small touches
- speckle, fleck
stipple -n
- production of gradation of light and shade in graphic art by stippling small points, larger dots, or longer strokes
- an effect produced in this way
stip·u·lar ['sti-pyə-lər] -adj
- of, resembling, or having stipules
stip·u·late ['sti-pyə-,lāt] -vb, n
- to make an agreement or covenant to do or forbear something : contract
- to demand an express term in an agreement used with for
- to specify as a condition or requirement (as of an agreement or offer)
- to give a guarantee of
- having stipules
stip·u·la·tion [,sti-pyə-'lā-shən] -n, adj
- an act of stipulating
- something stipulated
- a condition, requirement, or item specified in a legal instrument
stip·ule ['sti-(,)pyül] -n
- either of a pair of appendages borne at the base of the petiole in many plants
stir ['stər] -vb, n
- to cause an esp. slight movement or change of position of
- to disturb the quiet of : agitate often used with up
- the bear stirred up the bees
- to disturb the relative position of the particles or parts of esp. by a continued circular movement often used with up
- stirred up mud from the lake bottom
- to mix by or as if by stirring often used with in
- bestir, exert
- to bring into notice or debate : raise often used with up
- to rouse to activity : evoke strong feelings in
- music that stir s the emotions
- to call forth (as a memory) : evoke
- provoke
- stir a storm of controversy
- to make a slight movement
- the leaves were barely stirring
- to begin to move (as in rousing)
- to shift to another location : budge
- haven't stirred since I arrived
- to begin to be active
- the factory stirred to life
- to be active or busy
- not a creature was stirring -- Clement Moore
- to pass an implement through a substance with a circular movement
- to be able to be stirred
- a state of disturbance, agitation, or brisk activity
- widespread notice and discussion : impression
- the book caused quite a stir
- a slight movement
- a stirring movement
- prison
stir·about ['stər-ə-,bau̇t] -n
- a porridge of Irish origin consisting of oatmeal or cornmeal boiled in water or milk and stirred
stircra·zy ['stər-'krā-zē] -adj
- distraught because of prolonged confinement
stirfry [-'frī] -vt
- to fry quickly over high heat in a lightly oiled pan (as a wok) while stirring continuously
- to prepare food by stir-frying it
- a dish of something stir-fried
stirk ['stərk] -n
- a young bull or cow esp. between one and two years old
Stir·ling engine ['stər-liŋ-] -n
- an external combustion engine having an enclosed working fluid (as helium) that is alternately compressed and expanded to operate a piston
Stir·ling's formula ['stər-liŋz-] -n
- a formulathat approximates the value of the factorial of a very large number n
stirp ['stərp] -n
- a line descending from a common ancestor : stock, lineage
stirring -adj
- active, bustling
- rousing, inspiring
- a beginning of motion or activity : movement often used in pl.
- the first stirring s of revolution
stir·rup ['stər-əp also 'stir-əp or 'stə-rəp] -n
- either of a pair of small light frames or rings for receiving the foot of a rider that are attached by a strap to a saddle and used to aid in mounting and as a support while riding
- : a piece resembling a stirrup: as
- one used as a support or clamp in carpentry and machinery
- a stirrup-shaped footrest
- a rope secured to a yard and attached to a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope
- stapes
stirrup cup -n
- a small serving of drink (as wine) taken by a rider about to depart
- the vessel in which it is served
- a farewell cup
stirrup leather -n
- the looped strap suspending a stirrup
stirrup pump -n
- a portable hand pump held in position by a foot bracket and used for throwing a jet or spray of liquid
stitch ['stich] -n
- a local sharp and sudden pain esp. in the side
- one in-and-out movement of a threaded needle in sewing, embroidering, or suturing
- a portion of thread left in the material or suture left in the tissue after one stitch
- a least bit esp. of clothing
- a single loop of thread or yarn around an implement (as a knitting needle or crochet hook)
- a stitch or series of stitches formed in a particular way
- to fasten, join, or close with or as if with stitches
- to make, mend, or decorate with or as if with stitches
- to unite by means of staples
- sew
stitch·ery ['stich-rē, 'sti-chə-] -n
- needlework
stitch·wort ['stich-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n
- any of several chickweeds (esp. genus Stellaria)
stithy ['sti-thē, -thē] -n
- anvil
- smithy
sti·ver ['stī-vər] -n
- a unit of value and coin of the Netherlands equal to gulden
- something of little value
stk -abbr
- stock
STL -abbr
- licentiate of sacred theology
STM -abbr
- master of sacred theology
- scanning tunneling microscope; scanning tunneling microscopy
stoa ['stō-ə] -n
- an ancient Greek portico usu. walled at the back with a front colonnade designed to afford a sheltered promenade
stoat ['stōt] -n
- the common Holarctic ermine ( Mustela erminea) esp. in its brown summer coat
stob ['stäb] -n
- stake, post
stoc·ca·do [stə-'kä-(,)dō] -n
- a thrust with a rapier
sto·chas·tic [stə-'kas-tik, stō-] -adj, adv
- random
- involving a random variable
- involving chance or probability : probabilistic
- a stochastic model of radiation-induced mutation
stock ['stäk] -n
- stump
- a log or block of wood
- something without life or consciousness
- a dull, stupid, or lifeless person
- : a supporting framework or structure: as
- the frame or timbers holding a ship during construction
- a device for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the feet or feet and hands can be locked
- the wooden part by which a shoulder arm is held during firing
- the butt of an implement (as a whip or fishing rod)
- bitstock, brace
- a long beam on a field gun forming the third support point in firing
- the main stem of a plant : trunk
- a plant or plant part united with a scion in grafting and supplying mostly underground parts to a graft
- a plant from which slips or cuttings are taken
- the crosspiece of an anchor
- the original (as a person, race, or language) from which others derive : source
- the descendants of one individual : family, lineage
- a compound organism
- an infraspecific group usu. having unity of descent
- a related group of languages
- a language family
- the equipment, materials, or supplies of an establishment
- livestock
- a store or supply accumulated or available
- the inventory of goods of a merchant or manufacturer
- a supply of capital : funds
- money or capital invested or available for investment or trading
- the part of a tally formerly given to the creditor in a transaction
- a debt or fund due (as from a government) for money loaned at interest
- capital or a debt or fund bearing interest in perpetuity and not ordinarily redeemable as to principal
- the proprietorship element in a corporation usu. divided into shares and represented by transferable certificates
- a portion of such stock of one or more companies
- stock certificate
- any of a genus ( Matthiola) of Old World herbs or subshrubs of the mustard family with racemes of usu. sweet-scented flowers
- a wide band or scarf worn about the neck esp. by some clergymen
- liquid in which meat, fish, or vegetables have been simmered that is used as a basis for soup, gravy, or sauce
- raw material from which something is manufactured
- paper used for printing
- the portion of a pack of cards not distributed to the players at the beginning of a game
- an estimate or evaluation of something
- take stock of the situation
- the estimation in which someone or something is held
- his stock with the electorate remains high -- Newsweek
- confidence or faith placed in someone or something
- put little stock in his testimony
- the production and presentation of plays by a stock company
- stock car
- to make (a domestic animal) pregnant
- to fit to or with a stock
- to provide with stock or a stock : supply
- stock a stream with trout
- to procure or keep a stock of
- our store stock s that brand
- to graze (livestock) on land
- to send out new shoots
- to put in stock or supplies
- kept regularly in stock
- commonly used or brought forward : standard
- kept for breeding purposes : brood
- devoted to the breeding and rearing of livestock
- used or intended for livestock
- used in herding livestock
- of or relating to a stock company
- employed in handling, checking, or taking care of the stock of merchandise on hand
stock·ade [stä-'kād] -n
- a line of stout posts set firmly to form a defense
- an enclosure or pen made with posts and stakes
- an enclosure in which prisoners are kept
stockade -vt
- to fortify or surround with a stockade
stockade fence -n
- a solid fence of half-round boards pointed at the top
stock boy -n
- a boy or man employed to stock shelves
stock·breed·er ['stäk-,brē-dər] -n
- a person engaged in the breeding and care of livestock for the market, for show purposes, or for racing
stock·bro·ker [-,brō-kər] -n
- a broker who executes orders to buy and sell securities and often also acts as a security dealer
stock car -n
- a latticed railroad boxcar for carrying livestock
- a racing car having the basic chassis of a commercially produced assembly-line model
stock certificate -n
- an instrument evidencing ownership of one or more shares of the stock of a corporation
stock company -n
- a corporation or joint-stock company of which the capital is represented by stock
- a theatrical company attached to a repertory theater
- one without outstanding stars
stock dividend -n
- the payment by a corporation of a dividend in the form of shares usu. of its own stock without change in par value
- the stock distributed in a stock dividend
stock·er ['stä-kər] -n
- a young animal (as a steer or heifer) suitable for being fed and fattened for market
- an animal (as a heifer) suitable for use in a breeding establishment
- stock car
stock exchange -n
- a place where security trading is conducted on an organized system
- an association of people organized to provide an auction market among themselves for the purchase and sale of securities
stock·fish [-,fish] -n
- fish (as cod, haddock, or hake) dried hard in the open air without salt
stock·hold·er ['stäk-,hōl-dər] -n
- an owner of corporate stock
Stock·holm syndrome ['stäk-,hō(l)m-] -n
- the psychological tendency of a hostage to bond with, identify with, or sympathize with his or her captor
stock·i·nette [,stä-kə-'net] -n
- a soft elastic usu. cotton fabric used esp. for bandages and infants' wear
stock·ing ['stä-kiŋ] -n, adj
- a usu. knit close-fitting covering for the foot and leg
- sock
- something resembling a stocking
- a ring of distinctive color on the lower part of the leg of an animal
stocking cap -n
- a long knitted cone-shaped cap with a tassel or pom-pom worn esp. for winter sports or play
stocking stuffer -n
- a small gift suitable for placing in a Christmas stocking
stockintrade [,stäk-ən-'trād, 'stäk-ən-,] -n
- the equipment, merchandise, or materials necessary to or used in a trade or business
- something that resembles the standard equipment of a tradesman or business
- humor was her stockintrade as a writer
stock·ish ['stä-kish] -adj
- like a stock : stupid
stock·ist ['stä-kist] -n
- one (as a retailer) that stocks goods
stock·job·ber ['stäk-,jä-bər] -n
- : one who deals in stocks: as
- a member of the London Stock Exchange who deals speculatively with brokers or other jobbers and usu. specializes in one class of securities called also jobber
- stockbroker
stock·job·bing [-,jä-biŋ] -n
- speculative exchange dealings
stock·keep·er ['stäk-,kē-pər] -n
- one that keeps and records stock (as in a warehouse) : one that keeps an inventory of goods on hand, shipped, or received
- one (as a herdsman or shepherd) having the charge or care of livestock
stock·man [-mən, -,man] -n
- one occupied as an owner or worker in the raising of livestock (as cattle or sheep)
stock market -n
- stock exchange
- a market for particular stocks
- the market for stocks throughout a country
stock option -n
- an option contract involving stock
- a right granted by a corporation to officers or employees as a form of compensation that allows purchase of corporate stock at a fixed price usu. within a specified period
stock·pile ['stäk-,pī(-ə)l] -n
- : a storage pile: as
- a reserve supply of something essential accumulated within a country for use during a shortage
- a gradually accumulated reserve of something
- avert stockpile s of unsold cars -- Bert Pierce
stockpile -vt, n
- to place or store in or on a stockpile
- to accumulate a stockpile of
- a country suspected of stockpiling weapons
stock·pot ['stäk-,pät] -n
- a pot in which soup stock is prepared
- an abundant supply : repository
stock·room [-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n
- a storage place for supplies or goods used in a business
stock saddle -n
- western saddle
stock split -n
- a division of corporate stock by the issuing to existing shareholders of a specified number of new shares with a corresponding lowering of par value for each outstanding share
stockstill ['stäk-'stil] -adj
- very still : motionless
stock·tak·ing ['stäk-,tā-kiŋ] -n
- the action of estimating a situation at a given moment
- inventory
stocky ['stä-kē] -adj, adv, n
- compact, sturdy, and relatively thick in build
stock·yard ['stäk-,yärd] -n
- a yard for stock
- one in which transient cattle, sheep, swine, or horses are kept temporarily for slaughter, market, or shipping
stodge ['stäj] -vt
- to stuff full esp. with food
- something or someone stodgy
stodgy ['stä-jē] -adj, adv, n
- having a rich filling quality : heavy
- moving in a slow plodding way esp. as a result of physical bulkiness
- boring, dull
- out on a peaceful rather stodgy Sunday boat trip -- Edna Ferber
- extremely old-fashioned : hidebound
- received a pompously Victorian letter from his stodgy father -- E. E. S. Montagu
- drab
- dowdy
sto·gie ['stō-gē] -n
- a stout coarse shoe : brogan
- an inexpensive slender cylindrical cigar
- cigar
sto·ic ['stō-ik] -n
- a member of a school of philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium about 300 b.c.holding that the wise man should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submissive to natural law
- one apparently or professedly indifferent to pleasure or pain
stoic [-i-kəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or resembling the Stoics or their doctrines
- not affected by or showing passion or feeling
- firmly restraining response to pain or distress
- a stoic indifference to cold
stoi·chio·met·ric [,stȯi-kē-ō-'me-trik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, used in, or marked by stoichiometry
stoi·chi·om·e·try [,stȯi-kē-'ä-mə-trē] -n
- a branch of chemistry that deals with the application of the laws of definite proportions and of the conservation of mass and energy to chemical activity
- the quantitative relationship between constituents in a chemical substance
- the quantitative relationship between two or more substances esp. in processes involving physical or chemical change
sto·i·cism ['stō-ə-,si-zəm] -n
- the philosophy of the Stoics
- indifference to pleasure or pain : impassiveness
stoke ['stōk] -vb
- to poke or stir up (as a fire) : supply with fuel
- to feed abundantly
- to increase the activity, intensity, or amount of
- limiting the number of cars available...will help stoke demand for the car -- Keith Naughton
- to stir up or tend a fire (as in a furnace) : supply a furnace with fuel
stoked -adj
- being in an enthusiastic or exhilarated state
stoke·hold ['stōk-,hōld] -n
- the boiler room of a ship
stok·er ['stō-kər] -n
- one employed to tend a furnace and supply it with fuel
- one that tends a marine steam boiler
- a machine for feeding a fire
Stokes' aster ['stōks-] -n
- a perennial composite herb ( Stokesia laevis) of the southern U.S. often grown for its large showy heads of usu. blue flowers called also sto*ke*sia sto-ke-zh(e-), -ze-
STOL -abbr
- short takeoff and landing
stole ['stēl] -vb, adj, n
(variant of steal)
- to take the property of another wrongfully and esp. as a habitual or regular practice
- to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly
- to steal or attempt to steal a base
- to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully
- to take away by force or unjust means
- they've stolen our liberty
- to take surreptitiously or without permission
- to appropriate to oneself or beyond one's proper share : make oneself the focus of
- to move, convey, or introduce secretly : smuggle
- to accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner
- to seize, gain, or win by trickery, skill, or daring
- a basketball player adept at steal ing the ball
- to reach (a base) safely solely by running and usu. catching the opposing team off guard
- the act or an instance of stealing
- a fraudulent or questionable political deal
- bargain
- it's a steal at that price
stolen ['stēl] -vb, adj, n
(variant of steal)
- to take the property of another wrongfully and esp. as a habitual or regular practice
- to come or go secretly, unobtrusively, gradually, or unexpectedly
- to steal or attempt to steal a base
- to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully
- to take away by force or unjust means
- they've stolen our liberty
- to take surreptitiously or without permission
- to appropriate to oneself or beyond one's proper share : make oneself the focus of
- to move, convey, or introduce secretly : smuggle
- to accomplish in a concealed or unobserved manner
- to seize, gain, or win by trickery, skill, or daring
- a basketball player adept at steal ing the ball
- to reach (a base) safely solely by running and usu. catching the opposing team off guard
- the act or an instance of stealing
- a fraudulent or questionable political deal
- bargain
- it's a steal at that price
stol·id ['stä-ləd] -adj, n, adv
- having or expressing little or no sensibility : unemotional
stol·len ['shtō-lən, 'shtȯ-, 'shtə-, or with s for sh] -n
- a sweet yeast bread of German origin containing fruit and nuts
sto·lon ['stō-lən, -,län] -n
- a horizontal branch from the base of a plant that produces new plants from buds at its tip or nodes (as in the strawberry) called also runner
- a hypha (as of rhizopus) produced on the surface and connecting a group of conidiophores
- an extension of the body wall (as of a hydrozoan or bryozoan) that develops buds giving rise to new zooids which usu. remain united by the stolon
sto·lon·if·er·ous [,stō-lə-'ni-f(ə-)rəs] -adj
- bearing or developing stolons
sto·ma ['stō-mə] -n
- any of various small simple bodily openings esp. in a lower animal
- one of the minute openings in the epidermis of a plant organ (as a leaf) through which gaseous interchange takes place
- the opening with its associated cellular structures
- an artificial permanent opening esp. in the abdominal wall made in surgical procedures
stom·ach ['stə-mək, -mik] -n
- a dilatation of the alimentary canal of a vertebrate communicating anteriorly with the esophagus and posteriorly with the duodenum
- one of the compartments of a ruminant stomach
- the abomasum is the fourth stomach of a ruminant
- a cavity in an invertebrate animal that is analogous to a stomach
- the part of the body that contains the stomach : belly, abdomen
- desire for food caused by hunger : appetite
- inclination, desire
- had no stomach for an argument
- courage, guts
- spirit, valor
- pride
- spleen, resentment
stomach -vt
- to take offense at
- to bear without overt reaction or resentment : put up with
- couldn't stomach office politics
stom·ach·ache [-,āk] -n
- pain in or in the region of the stomach
stom·ach·er ['stə-mi-kər, -chər] -n
- the center front section of a waist or underwaist or a usu. heavily embroidered or jeweled separate piece for the center front of a bodice worn by men and women in the 15th and 16th centuries and later by women only
sto·mach·ic [stə-'ma-kik] -adj
- of or relating to the stomach
stomachic -n
- a stimulant or tonic for the stomach
stom·achy ['stə-mə-kē, -mi-] -adj
- irascible, irritable
- having a large stomach
sto·mal ['stō-məl] -adj
- of, relating to, or situated near a surgical stoma
stomat- -comb form
- mouth : stoma
sto·ma·tal ['stō-mə-tᵊl] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting plant stomata
sto·mate ['stō-,māt] -n
- stoma
sto·ma·ti·tis [,stō-mə-'tī-təs] -n
- any of numerous inflammatory diseases of the mouth
sto·mato·pod [stō-'ma-tə-,päd] -n, adj
- any of an order (Stomatopoda) of marine crustaceans (as a squilla) that have gills on the abdominal appendages
sto·mo·de·um [,stō-mə-'dē-əm] -n, adj
- the embryonic anterior ectodermal part of the alimentary canal or tract
stomp ['stämp, 'stȯmp] -vb
- stamp
- to walk with a loud heavy step usu. in anger
- stomp ed out of the office in a fit
- stamp
- stamp
- a jazz dance marked by heavy stamping
stomping ground -n
- a favorite or habitual resort
- familiar territory
stone ['stōn] -n
- : a concretion of earthy or mineral matter:
- such a concretion of indeterminate size or shape
- rock
- : a piece of rock for a specified function: as
- a building block
- a paving block
- a precious stone : gem
- gravestone
- grindstone
- whetstone
- a surface upon which a drawing, text, or design to be lithographed is drawn or transferred
- : something resembling a small stone: as
- calculus
- the hard central portion of a drupaceous fruit (as a peach)
- a hard stony seed (as of a date)
- any of various units of weight
- an official British unit equal to 14 pounds (6.3 kilograms)
- curling stone
- a round playing piece used in various games (as backgammon or go)
- a stand or table with a smooth flat top on which to impose or set type
- to hurl stones at
- to kill by pelting with stones
- to make hard or insensitive to feeling
- to face, pave, or fortify with stones
- to remove the stones or seeds of (a fruit)
- to rub, scour, or polish with a stone
- to sharpen with a whetstone
- entirely, utterly used as an intensive often used in combination
- of, relating to, or made of stone
- absolute, utter
- pure stone craziness -- Edwin Shrake
Stone Age -n
- the first known period of prehistoric human culture characterized by the use of stone tools
- a stage in a human institution or field of endeavor regarded as primitive, outmoded, or obsolete
- the Stone Age of information handling before computers
- of, relating to, or resembling the culture of the Stone Age esp. in the use of stone implements
- primitive, outmoded, or unsophisticated (as in ideas or technology) by currently accepted standards
- marauding mercenaries with Stone Age political ideas -- Robert Moss
stoneblind ['stōn-'blīnd] -adj
- totally blind
stone·boat [-,bōt] -n
- a flat sledge or drag for transporting heavy articles (as stones)
stone canal -n
- a tube in many echinoderms that contains calcareous deposits and leads from the madreporite to the ring of the water-vascular system surrounding the mouth
stone cell -n
- sclereid
stone·chat [-,chat] -n
- an Old World oscine songbird ( Saxicola torquata) of the thrush family
- any of various related birds (genus Saxicola)
stone china -n
- a hard dense opaque feldspathic pottery developed in England
- ironstone china
stonecold ['stōn-'kōld] -adv
- absolutely
stone crab -n
- a large brownish edible crab ( Menippe mercenariaof the family Xanthidae) found on the southern coast of the U.S. and in the Caribbean area
stone·crop ['stōn-,kräp] -n
- sedum
- an Old World creeping evergreen sedum ( Sedum acre) with pungent fleshy leaves and yellow flowers
- any of various plants of the orpine family related to the sedums
stone·cut·ter [-,kə-tər] -n
- one that cuts, carves, or dresses stone
- a machine for dressing stone
stoned ['stōnd] -adj
- drunk
- being under the influence of a drug (as marijuana) taken esp. for pleasure : high
stonedeaf [-'def] -adj
- totally deaf
stonefaced [-,fāst] -adj
- showing no emotion : expressionless
stone·fish ['stōn-,fish] -n
- any of several small spiny venomous bony fishes (family Synanceiidae, esp. genus Synanceja) common about coral reefs of the tropical Indo-Pacific
stone fly -n
- any of an order (Plecoptera) of insects with an aquatic carnivorous nymph having gills and an adult having long antennae, two pairs of membranous wings, and usu. long cerci
stone fruit -n
- a fruit with a stony endocarp : drupe
stoneground ['stōn-'grau̇nd] -adj
- ground with millstones
stone·ma·son ['stōn-,mā-sᵊn] -n
- a mason who builds with stone
ston·er ['stō-nər] -n
- a person who habitually uses drugs or alcohol
stone roller -n
- hog sucker
- a common cyprinid fish ( Campostoma anomalum) found esp. in clear streams of the central U.S.
stone's throw -n
- a short distance
- lives within a stone's throw of town
stone·wall ['stōn-,wȯl] -vi, n
- to engage in obstructive parliamentary debate or delaying tactics
- to be uncooperative, obstructive, or evasive
- to refuse to comply or cooperate with
stone wall -n
- a fence made of stones
- one built of rough stones without mortar to enclose a field
- an immovable block or obstruction (as in public affairs)
stone·ware [-,wer] -n
- a strong opaque ceramic ware that is high-fired, well vitrified, and nonporous
stone·washed [-,wȯsht, -,wäsht also -,wȯrsht or -,wärsht] -adj
- subjected to a washing process during manufacture that includes the use of abrasive stones esp. to create a softer fabric
stone·work [-,wərk] -n
- a structure or part built of stone : masonry
- the shaping, preparation, or setting of stone
stone·wort [-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n
- any of various freshwater green algae (order Charales) that have a thallus differentiated into rhizoids and stems with whorls of branchlets and that are often encrusted with calcareous deposits
stony ['stō-nē] -adj, adv, n
- abounding in or having the nature of stone : rocky
- insensitive to pity or human feeling : obdurate
- manifesting no movement or reaction : dumb, expressionless
- fearfully gripping : petrifying
- consisting of or made of stones
- stone broke
stony·heart·ed ['stō-nē-,här-təd] -adj
- unfeeling, cruel
stood ['stand] -vb, n
(variant of stand)
- to support oneself on the feet in an erect position
- to be a specified height when fully erect
- to rise to an erect position
- to take up or maintain a specified position or posture
- can you stand on your head
- to maintain one's position
- to be in a particular state or situation
- to hold a course at sea
- hesitate
- to have or maintain a relative position in or as if in a graded scale
- stand s first in the class
- to be in a position to gain or lose because of an action taken or a commitment made
- stand s to make quite a profit
- to be a candidate : run
- to rest or remain upright on a base or lower end
- a clock stood on the mantle
- to occupy a place or location
- the house stand s on a knoll
- to remain stationary or inactive
- the car stood in the garage for a week
- to gather slowly and remain
- tears stand ing in her eyes
- agree, accord used chiefly in the expression it stands to reason
- to exist in a definite written or printed form
- copy a passage exactly as it stand s
- to remain valid or efficacious
- the order given last week still stand s
- to be available as a sire used esp. of horses
- to refuse additional cards (as in blackjack)
- to endure or undergo successfully
- this book will stand the test of time
- to tolerate without flinching : bear courageously
- to endure the presence or personality of
- to derive benefit or enjoyment from
- you look like you could stand a drink
- to remain firm in the face of
- to submit to
- to perform the duty of
- to participate in (a military formation)
- to pay the cost of (a treat) : pay for
- to cause to stand : set upright
- to make available for breeding
- a halt for defense or resistance
- an often defensive effort of some duration or degree of success
- a stop made to give a performance
- a town where such a stop is made
- an act of stopping or staying in one place
- a place or post where one stands
- a strongly or aggressively held position esp. on a debatable issue
- took a stand against higher taxes
- the place taken by a witness for testifying in court
- a section of the tiered seats for spectators of a sport or spectacle
- the occupants of such seats
- a raised platform (as for a speaker or hunter) serving as a point of vantage
- a small often open-air structure for a small retail business
- a site fit for business opportunity
- a place where a passenger vehicle stops or parks
- hive
- a frame on or in which something may be placed for support
- a group of plants growing in a continuous area
- a standing posture
stooge ['stüj] -n
- one who plays a subordinate or compliant role to a principal
- puppet
- straight man
- stool pigeon
- to act as a stooge
- congressmen who stooge for the oil and mineral interests -- New Republic
stook ['stük, 'stu̇k] -n, vt
- shock
stool ['stül] -n
- a seat usu. without back or arms supported by three or four legs or by a central pedestal
- a low bench or portable support for the feet or knees : footstool
- a seat used as a symbol of office or authority
- the rank, dignity, office, or rule of a chieftain
- a seat used while defecating or urinating
- a discharge of fecal matter
- a stump or group of stumps of a tree esp. when producing suckers
- a plant crown from which shoots grow out
- a shoot or growth from a stool
- stool pigeon
- to throw out shoots in the manner of a stool
stool·ie ['stü-lē] -n
- stool pigeon
stool pigeon -n
- a person acting as a decoy or informer
- a spy sent into a group to report (as to the police) on its activities
- a pigeon used as a decoy to draw others within a net
stoop ['stüp] -vb
- to bend the body or a part of the body forward and downward sometimes simultaneously bending the knees
- to stand or walk with a forward inclination of the head, body, or shoulders
- yield, submit
- to descend from a superior rank, dignity, or status
- to lower oneself morally
- to move down from a height : alight
- to fly or dive down swiftly usu. to attack prey
- debase, degrade
- to bend (a part of the body) forward and downward
- an act of bending the body forward
- a temporary or habitual forward bend of the back and shoulders
- the descent of a bird esp. on its prey
- a lowering of oneself
- a porch, platform, entrance stairway, or small veranda at a house door
stoop·ball ['stüp-,bȯl] -n
- a variation of baseball in which a player throws a ball against a stoop or building and runs to base while other players attempt to retrieve the rebound and put the runner out
stoop labor -n
- the hard labor done or required to plant, cultivate, and harvest a crop and esp. a crop of vegetables
stop ['stäp] -vb, adj
- to close by filling or obstructing
- to hinder or prevent the passage of
- to get in the way of : be wounded or killed by
- easy to stop a bullet along a lonely...road -- Harvey Fergusson
- to close up or block off (an opening) : plug
- to make impassable : choke, obstruct
- to cover over or fill in (a hole or crevice)
- to cause to give up or change a course of action
- to keep from carrying out a proposed action : restrain, prevent
- stopped them from leaving
- to cause to cease : check, suppress
- discontinue
- to deduct or withhold (a sum due)
- to instruct one's bank to refuse (payment) or refuse payment of (as a check)
- to arrest the progress or motion of : cause to halt
- parry
- to check by means of a weapon : bring down, kill
- to beat in a boxing match by a knockout
- defeat
- baffle, nonplus
- to change the pitch of (as a violin string) by pressing with the finger or (as a wind instrument) by closing one or more finger holes or by thrusting the hand or a mute into the bell
- to hold an honor card and enough protecting cards to be able to block (a bridge suit) before an opponent can run many tricks
- to cease activity or operation
- to come to an end esp. suddenly : close, finish
- to cease to move on : halt
- pause, hesitate
- to break one's journey : stay
- remain
- to make a brief call : drop in
- to become choked : clog
- cessation, end
- a pause or breaking off in speech
- a graduated set of organ pipes of similar design and tone quality
- a corresponding set of vibrators or reeds of a reed organ
- stop knob often used figuratively in phrases like pull out all the stops to suggest holding nothing back
- a means of regulating the pitch of a musical instrument
- something that impedes, obstructs, or brings to a halt : impediment, obstacle
- the aperture of a camera lens
- a marking of a series (as of f-numbers) on a camera for indicating settings of the diaphragm
- a drain plug : stopper
- a device for arresting or limiting motion
- the act of stopping : the state of being stopped : check
- a halt in a journey : stay
- made a brief stop to refuel
- a stopping place
- any of several punctuation marks
- used in telegrams and cables to indicate a period
- a pause or break in a verse that marks the end of a grammatical unit
- an order stopping payment (as of a check or note) by a bank
- stop order
- a consonant characterized by complete closure of the breath passage in the course of articulation
- a depression in the face of an animal at the junction of forehead and muzzle
- a function of an electronic device that stops a recording
- serving to stop : designed to stop
stopac·tion ['stäp-'ak-shən] -n
- stop-motion
stopandgo [,stäp-ən-'gō, -ᵊm-, attributively -,gō] -adj
- of, relating to, or involving frequent stops
- controlled or regulated by traffic lights
stop bath -n
- an acid bath used to check photographic development of a negative or print
stop·cock ['stäp-,käk] -n
- a cock for stopping or regulating flow (as through a pipe)
stop down -vt
- to reduce the effective aperture of (a lens) by means of a diaphragm
stope ['stōp] -n
- a usu. steplike excavation underground for the removal of ore that is formed as the ore is mined in successive layers
stop·gap ['stäp-,gap] -n
- something that serves as a temporary expedient : makeshift
stop knob -n
- one of the handles by which an organist draws or shuts off a particular stop
stop·light ['stäp-,līt] -n
- a light on the rear of a motor vehicle that is illuminated when the driver presses the brake pedal
- traffic signal
stopmo·tion ['stäp-'mō-shən] -n
- a filming technique in which successive positions of objects (as clay models) are photographed to produce the appearance of movement
stop order -n
- an order to a broker to buy or sell respectively at the market when the price of a security advances or declines to a designated level
stop out ['stäp-,au̇t] -vi, n
- to withdraw temporarily from enrollment at a college or university
stop·over ['stäp-,ō-vər] -n
- a stop at an intermediate point in one's journey
- a stopping place on a journey
stop·page ['stä-pij] -n
- the act of stopping : the state of being stopped : halt, obstruction
stop payment -n
- a depositor's order to a bank to refuse to honor a specified check drawn by him or her
stop·per ['stä-pər] -n
- : one that brings to a halt or causes to stop operating or functioning : check: as
- a playing card that will stop the running of a suit
- a baseball pitcher depended on to win important games or to stop a losing streak
- an effective relief pitcher
- one that closes, shuts, or fills up
- something (as a bung or cork) used to plug an opening
stopper [-p(ə-)riŋ] -vt
- to close or secure with or as if with a stopper
stopper knot -n
- a knot used to prevent a rope from passing through a hole or opening
stop·ple ['stä-pəl] -n
- something that closes an aperture : stopper, plug
stopple [-p(ə-)liŋ] -vt
- stopper
stop·watch ['stäp-,wäch] -n
- a watch with a hand or a digital display that can be started and stopped at will for exact timing (as of a race)
stor -abbr
- storage
stor·age ['stȯr-ij] -n
- space or a place for storing
- an amount stored
- memory
- the act of storing : the state of being stored
- the safekeeping of goods in a depository (as a warehouse)
- the price charged for keeping goods in a storehouse
- the production by means of electric energy of chemical reactions that when allowed to reverse themselves generate electricity again without serious loss
storage battery -n
- a cell or connected group of cells that converts chemical energy into electrical energy by reversible chemical reactions and that may be recharged by passing a current through it in the direction opposite to that of its discharge called also storage cell
sto·rax ['stȯr-,aks] -n
- a fragrant balsam obtained from the bark of an Asian tree ( Liquidambar orientalis) of the witch-hazel family that is used as an expectorant and sometimes in perfumery called also Levant storax
- a balsam from the sweet gum that is similar to storax
- any of a genus ( Styraxof the family Styracaceae, the storax family) of trees or shrubs with usu. hairy leaves and white flowers in drooping racemes
store ['stȯr] -vt, adj
- lay away, accumulate
- store vegetables for winter use
- an organism that absorbs and store s DDT
- furnish, supply
- to stock against a future time
- store a ship with provisions
- to place or leave in a location (as a warehouse, library, or computer memory) for preservation or later use or disposal
- to provide storage room for : hold
- elevators for storing surplus wheat
- something that is stored or kept for future use
- articles (as of food) accumulated for some specific object and drawn upon as needed : stock, supplies
- something that is accumulated
- a source from which things may be drawn as needed : a reserve fund
- storage usu. used with in
- when placing eggs in store -- Dublin Sunday Independent
- value, importance
- set great store by a partner's opinion
- a large quantity, supply, or number : abundance
- storehouse, warehouse
- memory
- a business establishment where usu. diversified goods are kept for retail sale
- of, relating to, kept in, or used for a store
- purchased from a store as opposed to being natural or homemade : manufactured, ready-made
storebought ['stȯr-,bȯt] -adj
- store
store cheese -n
- cheddar
store·front ['stȯr-,frənt] -n
- the front side of a store or store building facing a street
- a building, room, or suite of rooms having a storefront
storefront -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a storefront church
- occupying a room or suite of rooms in a store building at street level and immediately behind a storefront
- of, relating to, or being outreach professional services
storefront church -n
- a city church that utilizes storefront quarters as a meeting place
store·house ['stȯr-,hau̇s] -n
- a building for storing goods (as provisions) : magazine, warehouse
- an abundant supply or source : repository
- a storehouse of information
store·keep·er [-,kē-pər] -n
- one that has charge of supplies (as military stores)
- one that operates a retail store
store·room [-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n
- a room or space for the storing of goods or supplies
- storehouse
store·ship [-,ship] -n
- a ship used to carry supplies
store·wide [-'wīd] -adj
- including all or most merchandise in a store
sto·ried ['stȯr-ēd] -adj
- decorated with designs representing scenes from story or history
- having an interesting history : celebrated in story or history
storied ['stȯr-ēd] -adj
- having stories used in combination
stork ['stȯrk] -n
- any of various large mostly Old World wading birds (family Ciconiidae) that have long stout bills and are related to the ibises and herons
storks·bill ['stȯrks-,bil] -n
- : any of several plants of the geranium family with elongate beaked fruits:
- pelargonium
- any of a genus ( Erodium) of herbs with small often veined or blotched flowers
storm ['stȯrm] -n
- a disturbance of the atmosphere marked by wind and usu. by rain, snow, hail, sleet, or thunder and lightning
- a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail
- wind having a speed of 64 to 72 miles (103 to 117 kilometers) per hour
- whole gale
- a serious disturbance of any element of nature
- a disturbed or agitated state: a sudden or violent commotion
- a heavy discharge of objects (as missiles)
- a tumultuous outburst
- paroxysm
- a sudden heavy influx or onset
- a violent assault on a defended position
- storm window
- to blow with violence
- to rain, hail, snow, or sleet vigorously
- to attack by storm
- storm ed ashore at zero hour
- to be in or to exhibit a violent passion : rage
- storm ing at the unusual delay
- to rush about or move impetuously, violently, or angrily
- the mob storm ed through the streets
- to attack, take, or win over by storm
storm and stress -n
- sturm und drang
storm·bound ['stȯrm-'bau̇nd] -adj
- cut off from outside communication by a storm or its effects : stopped or delayed by storms
storm cellar -n
- a cellar or covered excavation designed for protection from dangerous windstorms (as tornadoes)
storm door -n
- an additional door placed outside an ordinary outside door for protection against severe weather
storm petrel -n
- any of various widespread small dark petrels (family Hydrobatidae) that typically return to land only to nest usu. in burrows called also Mother Carey's chicken
storm trooper -n
- a member of a private Nazi army notorious for aggressiveness, violence, and brutality
- one that resembles a Nazi storm trooper
storm window -n
- a sash placed outside an ordinary window as a protection against severe weather called also storm sash
stormy ['stȯr-mē] -adj, adv, n
- relating to, characterized by, or indicative of a storm
- marked by turmoil or fury
stormy petrel -n
- storm petrel
- one fond of strife
- a harbinger of trouble
sto·ry ['stȯr-ē] -n
- history
- history
- an account of incidents or events
- a statement regarding the facts pertinent to a situation in question
- anecdote
- an amusing one
- a fictional narrative shorter than a novel
- short story
- the intrigue or plot of a narrative or dramatic work
- a widely circulated rumor
- lie, falsehood
- legend, romance
- a news article or broadcast
- matter, situation
story -vt
- to narrate or describe in story
- to adorn with a story or a scene from history
- the space in a building between two adjacent floor levels or between a floor and the roof
- a set of rooms in such a space
- a unit of measure equal to the height of the story of a building
- a horizontal division of a building's exterior not necessarily corresponding exactly with the stories within
sto·ry·board [-,bȯrd] -n, vt
- a panel or series of panels on which a set of sketches is arranged depicting consecutively the important changes of scene and action in a series of shots (as for a film, television show, or commercial)
sto·ry·book [-,bu̇k] -n
- a book of stories usu. for children
storybook -adj
- fairy-tale
story line -n
- the plot of a story or drama
sto·ry·tell·er ['stȯr-ē-,te-lər] -n
- : a teller of stories: as
- a relater of anecdotes
- a reciter of tales (as in a children's library)
- liar, fibber
- a writer of stories
stoss ['stäs, 'stȯs, 'stōs, 'shtōs] -adj
- facing toward the direction from which an overriding glacier impinges
- the stoss slope of a hill
stot ['stät] -vi
- to bound with a stiff-legged gait
- the gazelle stotted when alarmed
sto·tin [stō-'tēn] -n
- a former monetary unit equal to Slovenian tolar
sto·tin·ka [stō-'tiŋ-kə, stə-] -n
- see lev at
stound ['stau̇nd, 'stünd] -n
- time, while
stoup ['stüp] -n
- a beverage container (as a glass or tankard)
- flagon
- a basin for holy water at the entrance of a church
stour ['stu̇r] -adj
- strong, hardy
- stern, harsh
- battle, conflict
- tumult, uproar
- dust, powder
stout ['stau̇t] -adj, adv, n
- : strong of character: as
- brave, bold
- firm, determined
- obstinate, uncompromising
- : physically or materially strong:
- sturdy, vigorous
- staunch, enduring
- sturdily constructed : substantial
- forceful
- violent
- bulky in body : fat
- a very dark full-bodied ale with a distinctive malty flavor
- a fat person
- a clothing size designed for the large figure
stout·en ['stau̇-tᵊn] -vb
- to make stout
- to become stout
stout·heart·ed ['stau̇t-,här-təd] -adj, adv, n
- : having a stout heart or spirit:
- courageous
- stubborn
stove ['stōv] -n
- a portable or fixed apparatus that burns fuel or uses electricity to provide heat (as for cooking or heating)
- a device that generates heat for special purposes (as for heating tools or heating air for a hot blast)
- kiln
- a hothouse esp. for the cultivation of tropical exotics
- greenhouse
stove ['stāv] -n
(variant of stave)
- staff
- any of the narrow strips of wood or narrow iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel (as a barrel) or structure
- stanza
- staff
- to break in the staves of (a cask)
- to smash a hole in
- to crush or break inward
- to drive or thrust away
- to become stove in used of a boat or ship
- to walk or move rapidly
stove·pipe ['stōv-,pīp] -n
- pipe of large diameter usu. of sheet steel used as a stove chimney or to connect a stove with a flue
- silk hat
sto·ver ['stō-vər] -n
- fodder
- mature cured stalks of corn with the ears removed that are used as feed for livestock
stow ['stō] -vt
- house, lodge
- to put away for future use : store
- to lock up for safekeeping : confine
- to dispose in an orderly fashion : arrange, pack
- load
- to put aside : stop
- crowd
- to eat or drink up usu. used with away
- stow ed away a huge dinner
stow·age [-ij] -n
- an act or process of stowing
- goods in storage or to be stowed
- storage capacity
- a place or receptacle for storage
- the state of being stored
stow·away ['stō-ə-,wā] -n
- one that stows away
stow away -vi
- to secrete oneself aboard a vehicle as a means of obtaining transportation
STP [,es-,tē-'pē] -n
- a hallucinogenic drug chemically related to mescaline and amphetamine
- shielded twisted pair
- standard temperature and pressure
str -abbr
- steamer
stra·bis·mus [strə-'biz-məs] -n, adj
- inability of one eye to attain binocular vision with the other because of imbalance of the muscles of the eyeball called also squint
strad·dle ['stra-dᵊl] -vb, n
- to stand, sit, or walk with the legs wide apart
- to sit astride
- to spread out irregularly : sprawl
- to favor or seem to favor two apparently opposite sides
- to execute a commodities market spread
- to stand, sit, or be astride of
- campsites straddling the river
- to be noncommittal in regard to
- to belong in part to (each of several categories)
- a movie straddling genres
straddle -n
- the act or position of one who straddles
- a noncommittal or equivocal position
- spread
Stra·di·va·ri [,stra-də-'vär-ē, -'ver-] -n
- stradivarius
Strad·i·var·i·us [,stra-də-'ver-ē-əs] -n
- a stringed instrument (as a violin) made by Antonio Stradivari of Cremona
strafe ['strāf, esp Brit 'sträf] -vt, n
- to rake (as ground troops) with fire at close range and esp. with machine-gun fire from low-flying aircraft
strag·gle ['stra-gəl] -vi, n
- to wander from the direct course or way : rove, stray
- to trail off from others of its kind
- little cabins straggling off into the woods
straggle -n
- a straggling group (as of persons or objects)
strag·gly ['stra-g(ə-)lē] -adj
- spread out or scattered irregularly
straight ['strāt] -adj, adv, n
- free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities
- generated by a point moving continuously in the same direction and expressed by a linear equation
- the straight segment of a curve
- lying along or holding to a direct or proper course or method
- candid, frank
- coming directly from a trustworthy source
- a straight tip on the horses
- having the elements in an order
- the straight sequence of events
- consecutive
- having the cylinders arranged in a single straight line
- a straight 8-cylinder engine
- plumb, vertical
- the picture isn't quite straight
- exhibiting honesty and fairness
- properly ordered or arranged
- set us straight on that issue
- correct
- free from extraneous matter : unmixed
- marked by no exceptions or deviations in support of a principle or party
- votes a straight Democratic ticket
- having a fixed price for each regardless of the number sold
- not deviating from an indicated pattern
- exhibiting no deviation from what is established or accepted as usual, normal, or proper : conventional
- square
- not using or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- heterosexual
- being the only form of remuneration
- in a straight manner
- came straight home from work
- straighten
- : something that is straight: as
- a straight line or arrangement
- straightaway
- homestretch
- a true or honest report or course
- a sequence (as of shots, strokes, or moves) resulting in a perfect score in a game or contest
- first place at the finish of a horse race : win
- a poker hand containing five cards in sequence but not of the same suit
- a person who adheres to conventional attitudes and mores
straightahead ['strāt-ə-'hed] -adj
- relating to or being music performed in an unembellished manner typical of a given idiom or performer
- straightforward
straight and narrow -n
- the way of propriety and rectitude used with the
straight angle -n
- an angle whose sides lie in opposite directions from the vertex in the same straight line and which equals two right angles
straightarm ['strāt-,ärm] -n, vb
- an act or instance of warding off a person or thing by pushing with the palm of the hand with the arm fully extended from the shoulder and the elbow locked called also stiff-arm
straight arrow -n, adj
- a person who lives by rigidly proper or conventional standards
straight·away [,strāt-ə-'wā] -adv
- without hesitation or delay
- proceeding in a straight line : continuous in direction
- immediate
- : a straight course: as
- the straight part of a closed racecourse : stretch
- a straight and unimpeded stretch of road or way
straight·bred ['strāt-'bred] -adj, n
- produced by breeding a single breed, strain, or type
straight chain -n
- an open chain of atoms having no side chains usu. hyphenated when used attributively
straight·edge ['strāt-,ej] -n
- a bar or piece of material (as of wood, metal, or plastic) with a straight edge for testing straight lines and surfaces or for cutting along or drawing straight lines
straight·en ['strā-tᵊn] -vb, n
- to make straight usu. used with up or out
- to become straight usu. used with up or out
straight face ['strāt-'fāst] -n, adj, adv
- a face giving no evidence of emotion and esp. of merriment
- lied with a straight face
straight flush -n
- a poker hand containing five cards of the same suit in sequence
straight·for·ward [,strāt-'fȯr-wərd, 'strāt-,] -adj, adv, n
- free from evasiveness or obscurity : exact, candid
- a straightforward account
- clear-cut, precise
- proceeding in a straight course or manner : direct, undeviating
straightforward [-wərdz] -adv
- in a straightforward manner
straightline ['strāt-'līn] -adj
- being a mechanical linkage or equivalent device designed to produce or copy motion in a straight line
- having the principal parts arranged in a straight line
- marked by a uniform spread and esp. in equal segments over a given term
- straightline amortization
- straightline depreciation
- occurring, measured, or made in or along a straight line
- straightline extrapolation
straight man -n
- a member of a comedy team who feeds lines to a partner who in turn replies with usu. humorous quips
straight off -adv
- at once : immediately
straightout ['strāt-'au̇t] -adj, adv
- forthright, blunt
- gave a straightout answer
- outright, thoroughgoing
straight poker -n
- poker in which the players bet on the five cards dealt to them and then have a showdown without drawing
straight razor -n
- a razor with a rigid steel cutting blade hinged to a case that forms a handle when the razor is open for use
straight shooter -n
- a thoroughly upright straightforward person
straight·way ['strāt-'wā, -,wā] -adv
- in a direct course : directly
- fell straightway down the stairs
- right away, immediately, straightaway
- straightway the clouds began to part
strain ['strān] -n
- lineage, ancestry
- a group of presumed common ancestry with clear-cut physiological but usu. not morphological distinctions
- a high-yielding strain of winter wheat
- a specified infraspecific group (as a stock, line, or ecotype)
- kind, sort
- discussions of a lofty strain
- inherited or inherent character, quality, or disposition
- a strain of madness in the family
- trace, streak
- tune, air
- a passage of verbal or musical expression
- a stream or outburst of forceful or impassioned speech
- the tenor, pervading note, burden, or tone of an utterance or of a course of action or conduct
- mood, temper
- to draw tight : cause to fit firmly
- strain the bandage over the wound
- to stretch to maximum extension and tautness
- strain a canvas over a frame
- to exert (as oneself) to the utmost
- to injure by overuse, misuse, or excessive pressure
- to cause a change of form or size in (a body) by application of external force
- : to squeeze or clasp tightly: as
- hug
- to compress painfully : constrict
- to cause to pass through a strainer : filter
- to remove by straining
- strain lumps out of the gravy
- to stretch beyond a proper limit
- that story strain s my credulity
- to squeeze out : extort
- to make violent efforts : strive
- has to strain to reach the high notes
- to pull against resistance
- a dog strain ing at its leash
- to contract the muscles forcefully in attempting to defecate often used in the phrase strain at stool
- to pass through or as if through a strainer
- the liquid strain s readily
- to make great difficulty or resistance : balk
- : an act of straining or the condition of being strained: as
- bodily injury from excessive tension, effort, or use
- one resulting from a wrench or twist and involving undue stretching of muscles or ligaments
- excessive or difficult exertion or labor
- excessive physical or mental tension
- a force, influence, or factor causing such tension
- deformation of a material body under the action of applied forces
- an unusual reach, degree, or intensity : pitch
- a strained interpretation of something said or written
strained ['strānd] -adj
- done or produced with excessive effort
- pushed by antagonism near to open conflict
strain·er ['strā-nər] -n
- : one that strains: as
- a device (as a sieve) to retain solid pieces while a liquid passes through
- any of various devices for stretching or tightening something
strain gauge -n
- extensometer
strait ['strāt] -adj, adv, n
- strict, rigorous
- narrow
- limited in space or time
- closely fitting : constricted, tight
- causing distress : difficult
- limited as to means or resources
- in a close or tight manner
- a narrow space or passage
- a comparatively narrow passageway connecting two large bodies of water often used in pl. but sing. in constr.
- isthmus
- a situation of perplexity or distress often used in pl.
strait·en ['strā-tᵊn] -vt
- to make strait or narrow
- to hem in : confine
- to restrict in freedom or scope : hamper
- to subject to distress, privation, or deficiency
- in straiten ed circumstances
strait·jack·et ['strāt-,ja-kət] -n
- a cover or overgarment of strong material (as canvas) used to bind the body and esp. the arms closely in restraining a violent prisoner or patient
- something that restricts or confines like a straitjacket
straitjacket -vt
- to confine in or as if in a straitjacket
strait·laced ['strāt-'lāst] -adj, adv, n
- excessively strict in manners, morals, or opinion
- wearing or having a bodice or stays tightly laced
Straits dollar ['strāts-] -n
- a dollar formerly issued by British Malaya and used in much of southern and eastern Asia and the East Indies
strake ['strāk] -n
- a continuous band of hull planking or plates on a ship
- the width of such a band
- streak, stripe
stra·mash [strə-'mash] -n
- disturbance, racket
- crash, smashup
stra·mo·ni·um [strə-'mō-nē-əm] -n
- the dried leaves of the jimsonweed or of a related plant (genus Datura) that contain toxic alkaloids (as atropine) used in medicine
- jimsonweed
strand ['strand] -n
- the land bordering a body of water : shore, beach
- to run, drive, or cause to drift onto a strand : run aground
- to leave in a strange or an unfavorable place esp. without funds or means to depart
- to leave (a base runner) on base at the end of an inning in baseball
- to become stranded
- stream
- sea
- fibers or filaments twisted, plaited, or laid parallel to form a unit for further twisting or plaiting into yarn, thread, rope, or cordage
- one of the wires twisted together or laid parallel to form a wire rope or cable
- something (as a molecular chain) resembling a strand
- an element (as a yarn or thread) of a woven or plaited material
- an elongated or twisted and plaited body resembling a rope
- one of the elements interwoven in a complex whole
- one strand of the novel's plot
- to break a strand of (a rope) accidentally
- to form (as a rope) from strands
- to play out, twist, or arrange in a strand
strand·ed ['stran-dəd] -adj, n
- having a strand or strands esp. of a specified kind or number usu. used in combination
strand·line ['stran(d)-,līn] -n
- shoreline
- a shoreline above the present water level
strange ['strānj] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or characteristic of another country : foreign
- not native to or naturally belonging in a place : of external origin, kind, or character
- not before known, heard, or seen : unfamiliar
- exciting wonder or awe : extraordinary
- discouraging familiarities : reserved, distant
- ill at ease
- unaccustomed
- she was strange to his ways
- a fundamental quark that has an electric charge of and a measured energy of approximately 150 MeV
- the flavor characterizing this particle
strange·ness ['strānj-nəs] -n
- the quality or state of being strange
- the flavor characterizing a strange quark
strang·er ['strān-jər] -n
- : one who is strange: as
- foreigner
- a resident alien
- one in the house of another as a guest, visitor, or intruder
- a person or thing that is unknown or with whom one is unacquainted
- one who does not belong to or is kept from the activities of a group
- one not privy or party to an act, contract, or title : one that interferes without right
- one ignorant of or unacquainted with someone or something
stranger -adj
- of, relating to, or being a stranger : foreign
- estrange, alienate
strange woman -n
- prostitute
stran·gle ['straŋ-gəl] -vb, n
- to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (as a hand or rope) : throttle
- to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of
- stifle
- to suppress or hinder the rise, expression, or growth of
- repression strangle s free speech
- to become strangled
- to die from or as if from interference with breathing
stran·gle·hold ['straŋ-gəl-,hōld] -n
- an illegal wrestling hold by which one's opponent is choked
- a force or influence that chokes or suppresses freedom of movement or expression
strangler fig -n
- any of several figs (as Ficus aureaof the southeastern U.S.) that start as epiphytes but send down roots to the ground around the host tree
- any of various epiphytic vines or trees (as Clusia roseasyn. C. major) of similar habit
stran·gles ['straŋ-gəlz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- an infectious febrile disease of horses caused by a streptococcus ( Streptococcus equi) and marked esp. by inflammation and congestion of mucous membranes of the respiratory tract
stran·gu·late ['straŋ-gyə-,lāt] -vb
- strangle, constrict
- to become constricted so as to stop circulation
- the hernia will strangulate
stran·gu·la·tion [,straŋ-gyə-'lā-shən] -n
- the action or process of strangling or strangulating
- the state of being strangled or strangulated
- excessive or pathological constriction or compression of a bodily tube (as a blood vessel or a loop of intestine) that interrupts its ability to act as a passage
stran·gu·ry ['straŋ-gyə-rē, -,gyu̇r-ē] -n
- a slow and painful spasmodic discharge of urine drop by drop
strap ['strap] -n, adj
- a narrow usu. flat strip or thong of a flexible material and esp. leather used for securing, holding together, or wrapping
- something made of a strap forming a loop
- a strip of leather used for flogging
- strop
- a band, plate, or loop of metal for binding objects together or for clamping an object in position
- a shoe fastened with a usu. buckled strap
- trollop
- to secure with or attach by means of a strap
- to support (as a sprained joint) with overlapping strips of adhesive plaster
- bind, constrict
- to beat or punish with a strap
- strop
- to cause to suffer from an extreme scarcity
- is often strapped for cash
strap·hang·er ['strap-,haŋ-ər] -n, vi
- a standing passenger in a subway, streetcar, bus, or train who clings for support to one of the short straps or similar devices placed along the aisle
strap·less [-ləs] -adj, n
- having no strap
- made or worn without shoulder straps
strap·pa·do [stra-'pā-(,)dō, -'pä-] -n
- a punishment or torture in which the subject is hoisted by rope and allowed to fall its full length
- a machine used to inflict this torture
strap·per ['stra-pər] -n
- one that is unusually large or robust
strapping -adj
- having a vigorously sturdy constitution
- material for a strap
- straps
strass ['stras] -n
- paste
strat·a·gem ['stra-tə-jəm, -,jem] -n
- an artifice or trick in war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy
- a cleverly contrived trick or scheme for gaining an end
- skill in ruses or trickery
stra·te·gic [strə-'tē-jik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or marked by strategy
- necessary to or important in the initiation, conduct, or completion of a strategic plan
- required for the conduct of war and not available in adequate quantities domestically
- of great importance within an integrated whole or to a planned effect
- emphasized strategic points
- designed or trained to strike an enemy at the sources of its military, economic, or political power
strat·e·gist ['stra-tə-jist] -n
- a person skilled in strategy
strat·e·gize [-,jīz] -vi
- to devise a strategy or course of action
strat·e·gy [-jē] -n
- the science and art of employing the political, economic, psychological, and military forces of a nation or group of nations to afford the maximum support to adopted policies in peace or war
- the science and art of military command exercised to meet the enemy in combat under advantageous conditions
- a variety of or instance of the use of strategy
- a careful plan or method : a clever stratagem
- the art of devising or employing plans or stratagems toward a goal
- an adaptation or complex of adaptations (as of behavior, metabolism, or structure) that serves or appears to serve an important function in achieving evolutionary success
- foraging strategies of insects
strath ['strath] -n
- a flat wide river valley or the low-lying grassland along it
strath·spey [,strath-'spā] -n
- a Scottish dance that is similar to but slower than the reel
- the music for this dance
strati- -comb form
- stratum
strat·i·fi·ca·tion [,stra-tə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- the act or process of stratifying
- the state of being stratified
- a stratified formation
strat·i·fi·ca·tion·al grammar [,stra-tə-fə-'kā-shnəl-, -shə-nᵊl-] -n
- a grammar based on the theory that language consists of a series of hierarchically related strata linked together by representational rules
stratified charge engine -n
- an internal-combustion engine in whose cylinders the combustion of fuel in a layer of rich fuel-air mixture promotes ignition in a greater volume of lean mixture
strat·i·form ['stra-tə-,fȯrm] -adj
- having a stratified formation
strat·i·fy ['stra-tə-,fī] -vb
- to form, deposit, or arrange in strata
- to divide or arrange into classes, castes, or social strata
- to divide into a series of graded statuses
- to become arranged in strata
strat·i·graph·ic [,stra-tə-'gra-fik] -adj
- of, relating to, or determined by stratigraphy
stra·tig·ra·phy [strə-'ti-grə-fē] -n
- geology that deals with the origin, composition, distribution, and succession of strata
- the arrangement of strata
strato- -comb form
- stratus and
stra·to·cu·mu·lus [,strā-tō-'kyü-myə-ləs, ,stra-] -n
- stratified low cumulus consisting of large balls or rolls of dark cloud which often cover the whole sky esp. in winter
strato·sphere ['stra-tə-,sfir] -n, adj, adv
- the part of the earth's atmosphere which extends from the top of the troposphere to about 30 miles (50 kilometers) above the surface and in which temperature increases gradually to about 32 F (0 C) and clouds rarely form
- a very high or the highest region on or as if on a graded scale
- construction costs in the stratosphere
- the celebrity stratosphere
stra·to·vol·ca·no [,stra-tō-väl-'kā-(,)nō, ,strā-, -vȯl-] -n
- a volcano composed of explosively erupted cinders and ash with occasional lava flows
stra·tum ['strā-təm, 'stra-] -n
- a bed or layer artificially made
- a sheetlike mass of sedimentary rock or earth of one kind lying between beds of other kinds
- a region of the sea or atmosphere that is analogous to a stratum of the earth
- a layer of tissue
- a layer in which archaeological material (as artifacts, skeletons, and dwelling remains) is found on excavation
- a part of a historical or sociological series representing a period or a stage of development
- a socioeconomic level of society comprising persons of the same or similar status esp. with regard to education or culture
- one of a series of layers, levels, or gradations in an ordered system
- a statistical subpopulation
stratum cor·ne·um [-'kȯr-nē-əm] -n
- the outer part of the epidermis consisting chiefly of layers of dead flattened nonnucleated cells filled with keratin
stra·tus ['strā-təs, 'stra-] -n
- a low cloud form extending over a large area at altitudes of usu. 2000 to 7000 feet (600 to 2100 meters)
stra·vage [strə-'vāg] -vi
- roam
straw ['strȯ] -n, adj
- stalks of grain after threshing
- dry stalky plant residue used like grain straw (as for bedding or packing)
- a natural or artificial heavy fiber used for weaving, plaiting, or braiding
- a dry coarse stem esp. of a cereal grass
- something of small worth or significance
- something too insubstantial to provide support or help in a desperate situation
- chaff
- something (as a hat) made of straw
- a tube (as of paper, plastic, or glass) for sucking up a beverage
- made of straw
- of, relating to, or used for straw
- of the color of straw
- of little or no value : worthless
- of, relating to, resembling, or being a straw man
- of, relating to, or concerned with the discovery of preferences by means of a straw vote
straw·ber·ry ['strȯ-,ber-ē, -b(ə-)rē] -n
- the juicy edible usu. red fruit of any of several low-growing temperate herbs (genus Fragaria) of the rose family that is technically an enlarged pulpy receptacle bearing numerous achenes on its surface
- a plant whose fruits are strawberries
- a hybrid ( Fragaria ananassa) that is the source of most cultivated strawberries
strawberry blonde -n
- a person having reddish-blond hair
- a reddish-blond color
- of a reddish-blond color
- having reddish-blond hair spelled blond when used of a boy or man and usu. blonde when used of a girl or woman
strawberry bush -n
- a shrubby spindle tree ( Euonymus americanus) of the eastern U.S. with crimson pods and seeds with a scarlet aril
- wahoo
strawberry mark -n
- a hemangioma appearing usu. as a red and elevated birthmark
strawberry roan -n
- a roan horse with a light red base color
strawberry tomato -n
- ground-cherry
- a stout hairy annual herb ( Physalis pruinosa) of eastern No. America with sweet globular yellow fruits
strawberry tree -n
- a small European evergreen tree ( Arbutus unedo) of the heath family with racemose white flowers and fruits resembling strawberries
straw boss -n
- an assistant to a foreman in charge of supervising and expediting the work of a small group of workers
- a member of a group of workers who supervises the work of the others in addition to doing his or her own job
straw·flow·er ['strȯ-,flau̇(-ə)r] -n
- any of several plants having everlasting flowers
- an Australian composite herb ( Helichrysum bracteatum) widely cultivated for its brightly colored flower heads in which papery bracts resembling ray flowers surround a central disk
straw·hat ['strȯ-'hat] -adj
- of, relating to, or being summer theater
straw man -n
- a weak or imaginary opposition (as an argument or adversary) set up only to be easily confuted
- a person set up to serve as a cover for a usu. questionable transaction
straw mushroom -n
- a mushroom ( Volvariella volvacea) that has a conical cap and is cultivated in southeastern Asia and used esp. in Chinese cooking
straw vote -n
- an unofficial vote taken (as at a chance gathering) to indicate the relative strength of opposing candidates or issues called also straw poll
straw wine -n
- a sweet wine produced by partially drying the grapes on beds of straw prior to vinification
straw yellow -n
- a pale yellow
stray ['strā] -n
- a domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost
- a person or thing that strays
- the act of going astray
- : wander: as
- to wander from company, restraint, or proper limits
- to roam about without fixed direction or purpose
- to move in a winding course : meander
- to move without conscious or intentional effort
- eyes stray ing absently around the room
- to become distracted from an argument or train of thought
- to wander accidentally from a fixed or chosen route
- err, sin
- having strayed or escaped from a proper or intended place
- occurring at random or sporadically
- not serving any useful purpose : unwanted
streak ['strēk] -n
- a line or mark of a different color or texture from the ground : stripe
- the color of the fine powder of a mineral obtained by scratching or rubbing against a hard white surface and constituting an important distinguishing character
- inoculum implanted in a line on a solid medium
- any of numerous virus diseases of plants (as tobacco and maize) resembling mosaic but usu. producing at least some linear markings
- a narrow band of light
- a lightning bolt
- a slight admixture : trace
- a brief run (as of luck)
- a consecutive series
- a narrow layer (as of fat)
- an act or instance of streaking
- to make streaks on or in
- tears streak ing her face
- to move swiftly : rush
- a jet streak ing across the sky
- to have a streak (as of winning or outstanding performances)
- to run naked through a public place
streak camera -n
- a camera for recording very fast or short-lived phenomena (as fluorescence or shock waves)
streaked ['strēkt, 'strē-kəd] -adj
- marked with stripes or linear discolorations
- physically or mentally disturbed : upset
streak·ing ['strē-kiŋ] -n
- the lightening (as by chemicals) of a few long strands of hair to produce a streaked effect
streaky ['strē-kē] -adj, n
- marked with streaks
- apprehensive
- apt to vary (as in effectiveness) : unreliable
stream ['strēm] -n
- a body of running water (as a river or brook) flowing on the earth
- any body of flowing fluid (as water or gas)
- a steady succession (as of words or events)
- kept up an endless stream of chatter
- a constantly renewed or steady supply
- a continuous moving procession
- an unbroken flow (as of gas or particles of matter)
- a ray of light
- a prevailing attitude or group
- has always run against the stream of current fashion
- a dominant influence or line of development
- the influence of two stream s of inheritance: genetic and cultural -- P. B. Baltes
- track
- to flow in or as if in a stream
- to leave a bright trail
- a meteor stream ed through the sky
- to exude a bodily fluid profusely
- to become wet with a discharge of bodily fluid
- stream ing with perspiration
- to trail out at full length
- her hair stream ing back as she ran
- to pour in large numbers
- complaints came stream ing in
- to emit freely or in a stream
- to display (as a flag) by waving
stream·bed ['strēm-,bed] -n
- the channel occupied or formerly occupied by a stream
stream·er ['strē-mər] -n
- a flag that streams in the wind
- pennant
- any long narrow wavy strip resembling or suggesting a banner floating in the wind
- banner
- a long extension of the solar corona visible only during a total solar eclipse
- aurora borealis
stream·ing ['strē-miŋ] -n
- an act or instance of flowing
- cyclosis
- tracking
streaming -adj
- relating to or being the transfer of data (as audio or video material) in a continuous stream esp. for immediate processing or playback
stream·let ['strēm-lət] -n
- a small stream
stream·line ['strēm-,līn] -n
- the path of a particle in a fluid relative to a solid body past which the fluid is moving in smooth flow without turbulence
- a contour designed to minimize resistance to motion through a fluid (as air)
- a smooth or flowing line designed as if for decreasing air resistance
streamline -vt
- to design or construct with a streamline
- to bring up to date : modernize
- to put in order : organize
- to make simpler or more efficient
- a system that streamline s the process
stream·lined [-,līnd] -adj
- contoured to reduce resistance to motion through a fluid (as air)
- stripped of nonessentials : compact
- effectively integrated : organized
- having flowing lines
- brought up to date : modernized
stream·lin·er ['strēm-,lī-nər] -n
- one that is streamlined
- a streamlined train
stream of consciousness
- the continuous unedited chronological flow of conscious experience through the mind
- interior monologue
stream·side ['strēm-,sīd] -n
- the land bordering on a stream
streek ['strēk] -vt
- stretch, extend
- to lay out (a dead body)
streel ['strēl] -vi
- to saunter idly and aimlessly
- to trail or float in the manner of a streamer
- an untidy slovenly person
street ['strēt] -n
- a thoroughfare esp. in a city, town, or village that is wider than an alley or lane and that usu. includes sidewalks
- the part of a street reserved for vehicles
- a thoroughfare with abutting property
- lives on a fashionable street
- the people occupying property on a street
- the whole street knew about the accident
- a promising line of development or a channeling of effort
- a crafty politician working both sides of the street
- success through compromise is a two-way street
- a district (as Wall Street or Fleet Street) identified with a particular profession
- the people who work in such a district
- doing better than the Street expected
- an environment (as in a depressed neighborhood or section of a city) of poverty, dereliction, or crime
- grew up on the mean street s
- : of or relating to the streets: as
- adjoining or giving access to a street
- carried on or taking place in the street
- living or working on the streets
- located in, used for, or serving as a guide to the streets
- performing in or heard on the street
- suitable for wear or use on the street
- not touching the ground used of a woman's dress in lengths reaching the knee, calf, or ankle
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the street environment
- used...his new street cred to develop contacts -- Dale Keiger
- retail
street·car ['strēt-,kär] -n
- a vehicle on rails used primarily for transporting passengers and typically operating on city streets
street fighter -n
- a tough belligerent person
- a political street fighter
street hockey -n
- a game resembling ice hockey played on a hard surface by players wearing shoes or roller skates and using hockey sticks and a small ball
street·light [-,līt] -n
- a light usu. mounted on a pole and constituting one of a series spaced at intervals along a public street or highway called also streetlamp
street railway -n
- a line operating streetcars or buses
streets ['strēts] -adv
- by a considerable margin
- a nice woman, streets above these other callers -- Katherine Mansfield
street·scape ['strēt-,skāp] -n
- the appearance or view of a street
- a work of art depicting a view of a street
streetsmart [-,smärt] -adj
- streetwise
street smarts -n pl
- the quality of being streetwise
street theater -n
- drama dealing with controversial social and political issues that is usu. performed outdoors
street·walk·er ['strēt-,wȯ-kər] -n
- prostitute
- one who solicits in the streets
street·wise [-,wīz] -adj
- possessing the skills and attitudes necessary to survive in a difficult or dangerous situation or environment
strength ['streŋ(k)th, 'stren(t)th] -n
- the quality or state of being strong : capacity for exertion or endurance
- power to resist force : solidity, toughness
- power of resisting attack : impregnability
- legal, logical, or moral force
- a strong attribute or inherent asset
- the strength s and the weaknesses of the book are evident
- degree of potency of effect or of concentration
- chili peppers in varying strength s
- intensity of light, color, sound, or odor
- vigor of expression
- force as measured in numbers : effective numbers of any body or organization
- one regarded as embodying or affording force or firmness : support
- you are my love and my strength
- maintenance of or a rising tendency in a price level : firmness of prices
- the strength of the dollar
- basis used in the phrase on the strength of
strength·en ['streŋ(k)-thən, 'stren(t)-] -vb, n
- to make stronger
- to become stronger
stren·u·ous ['stren-yə-wəs] -adj, n, adv
- vigorously active : energetic
- fervent, zealous
- the proposal's most strenuous supporters
- marked by or calling for energy or stamina : arduous
strep ['strep] -n
- streptococcus
strep throat -n
- an inflammatory sore throat caused by hemolytic Group A streptococci and marked by fever, prostration, and toxemia called also septic sore throat
strepto- -comb form
- twisted : twisted chain
- streptococcus
strep·to·ba·cil·lus [,strep-tō-bə-'si-ləs] -n
- any of a genus ( Streptobacillus) of nonmotile gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria in which the individual cells are often joined in a chain
- one ( S. moniliformis) that is the causative agent of one form of rat-bite fever
strep·to·car·pus [,strep-tə-'kär-pəs] -n
- any of a genus ( Streptocarpus) of usu. stemless African gesneriads that have showy brightly colored flowers with funnel-shaped corollas
strep·to·coc·cal [,strep-tə-'kä-kəl] -adj
- of, relating to, caused by, or being streptococci
- a streptococcal sore throat
strep·to·coc·cus [-'kä-kəs] -n
- any of a genus ( Streptococcus) of spherical or ovoid chiefly nonmotile and parasitic gram-positive bacteria that divide only in one plane, occur in pairs or chains, and include important pathogens of humans and domestic animals
- a coccus occurring in chains
strep·to·ki·nase [,strep-tō-'kī-,nās, -,nāz] -n
- a proteolytic enzyme produced by hemolytic streptococci that promotes the dissolution of blood clots by activating plasminogen to produce plasmin
strep·to·ly·sin [,strep-tə-'lī-sᵊn] -n
- an antigenic hemolysin produced by streptococci
strep·to·my·ces [-'mī-,sēz] -n
- any of a genus ( Streptomyces) of mostly soil streptomycetes including some that form antibiotics as by-products of their metabolism
strep·to·my·cete [-'mī-,sēt, -,mī-'sēt] -n
- any of a family (Streptomycetaceae) of actinomycetes (as a streptomyces) that form vegetative mycelia which rarely break up into bacillary forms, have conidia borne on sporophores, and are typically aerobic soil saprophytes but include a few parasites of plants and animals
strep·to·my·cin [-'mī-sᵊn] -n
- an antibiotic organic base C 21H 39N 7O 12that is produced by a soil actinomycete ( Streptomyces griseus), is active against many bacteria, and is used esp. in the treatment of infections (as tuberculosis) by gram-negative bacteria
strep·to·thri·cin [-'thrī-sᵊn, -'thri-] -n
- any of a group of related basic antibiotics produced by a streptomyces ( Streptomyces lavendulae) and active esp. against bacteria
stress ['stres] -n
- : constraining force or influence: as
- a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part
- the intensity of this mutual force commonly expressed in pounds per square inch
- the deformation caused in a body by such a force
- a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation
- a state resulting from a stress
- one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium
- strain, pressure
- the environment is under stress to the point of collapse -- Joseph Shoben
- emphasis, weight
- intense effort or exertion
- intensity of utterance given to a speech sound, syllable, or word producing relative loudness
- relative force or prominence of sound in verse
- a syllable having relative force or prominence
- accent
- to subject to physical or psychological stress
- this traffic is stress ing me out
- to subject to phonetic stress : accent
- to lay stress on : emphasize
- stress ed the importance of teamwork
- to feel stress
- stress ing about the big exam
often used with out
stressed ['strest] -adj
- stressed-out
- feeling stressed about work
stressedout ['strest-'au̇t] -adj
- suffering from high levels of physical or esp. psychological stress
stress fracture -n
- a usu. hairline fracture of a bone that has been subjected to repeated stress
stress·ful ['stres-fəl] -adj, adv
- full of or tending to induce stress
stress incontinence -n
- involuntary leakage of urine from the bladder accompanying physical activity (as laughing or coughing) which places increased pressure on the abdomen
stress·less [-ləs] -adj, n
- having no stress
- having no accent
stress mark -n
- a mark used with (as before, after, or over) a written syllable in the respelling of a word to show that this syllable is to be stressed when spoken : accent mark
stress·or ['stre-sər, -,sȯr] -n
- a stimulus that causes stress
stress test -n
- an electrocardiographic test of heart function before, during, and after a controlled period of increasingly strenuous exercise (as on a treadmill)
stretch ['strech] -vb, n, adj
- to extend (as one's limbs or body) in a reclining position
- to reach out : extend
- to extend in length
- stretch ed his neck to see what was going on
- to fell with or as if with a blow
- to cause the limbs of (a person) to be pulled esp. in torture
- to draw up (one's body) from a cramped, stooping, or relaxed position
- to pull taut
- canvas stretch ed on a frame
- to enlarge or distend esp. by force
- to extend or expand as if by physical force
- stretch one's mind with a good book
- strain
- stretch ed his already thin patience
- to cause to reach or continue (as from one point to another or across a space)
- stretch a wire between two posts
- to amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper limits
- the rules can be stretch ed this once
- to expand (as by improvisation) to fulfill a larger function
- to extend (a hit) to an extra base usu. by fast or daring running
- stretch a single into a double
- to become extended in length or breadth or both : spread
- broad plains stretch ing to the sea
- to extend over a continuous period
- the dynasty stretch es back several centuries
- to become extended without breaking
- to extend one's body or limbs
- stretch ed before jogging
- wanted to stretch out on the sofa
- to lie down at full length
- an exercise of something (as the understanding or the imagination) beyond ordinary or normal limits
- their conclusion seemed like a bit of a stretch
- an extension of the scope or application of something
- the extent to which something may be stretched
- the act of stretching : the state of being stretched
- the position of a pitcher standing sideways to home plate so as to keep a runner close to a base
- pitching from the stretch
- an extent in length or area
- a continuous period of time
- can write for eight hours at a stretch
- a walk to relieve fatigue
- a term of imprisonment
- either of the straight sides of a racecourse
- homestretch
- a final stage (as of a contest or season)
- won some crucial games down the stretch
- the capacity for being stretched : elasticity
- a waistband with lots of stretch
- a stretch limousine
- easily stretched : elastic
- longer than the standard size
stretch·er ['stre-chər] -n
- one that stretches
- a device or machine for stretching or expanding something
- an exaggerated story : a tall tale
- a brick or stone laid with its length parallel to the face of the wall
- a timber or rod used esp. when horizontal as a tie in framed work
- a device for carrying a sick, injured, or dead person
- a rod or bar extending between two legs of a chair or table
stretcher -vt
- to carry or transport on a stretcher
stretch marks -n pl
- striae on the skin (as of the hips, abdomen, and breasts) from excessive stretching and rupture of elastic fibers esp. due to pregnancy or obesity
stretchout ['strech-,au̇t] -n
- a system of industrial operation in which workers are required to do extra work with slight or with no additional pay
- the act of stretching out : the state of being stretched out
- : an economizing measure that spreads a limited quantity over a larger field than orig. intended: as
- a slackening of production schedules so that a quantity of goods will be produced over a longer period than initially planned
- a restructuring of a loan repayment schedule over an extended period of time
stretch receptor -n
- muscle spindle
stretch runner -n
- a racehorse that makes a strong bid in the homestretch
stret·to ['stre-(,)tō] -n
- the overlapping of answer with subject in a musical fugue
- the part of a fugue characterized by this overlapping
- a concluding passage performed in a quicker tempo
streu·sel ['strü-səl, -zəl, 'strȯi-, 'shtrȯi-] -n
- a crumbly mixture of fat, sugar, and flour and sometimes nuts and spices that is used as topping or filling for cake
strew ['strü] -vt
- to spread by scattering
- to cover by or as if by scattering something
- strew ing the highways with litter
- to become dispersed over as if scattered
- to spread abroad : disseminate
strew·ment ['strü-mənt] -n
- something (as flowers) strewed or designed for strewing
stria ['strī-ə] -n
- striation
- a stripe or line (as in the skin) distinguished from the surrounding area by color, texture, or elevation
stri·ate ['strī-,āt] -vt
- to mark with striations or striae
- striated
stri·at·ed ['strī-,ā-təd] -adj
- marked with striations or striae
- of, relating to, or being striated muscle
striated muscle -n
- muscle tissue that is marked by transverse dark and light bands, is made up of elongated usu. multinucleated fibers, and includes skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and most muscle of arthropods
stri·a·tion [strī-'ā-shən] -n
- the fact or state of being striated
- arrangement of striations or striae
- a minute groove, scratch, or channel esp. when one of a parallel series
- any of the alternate dark and light cross bands of a myofibril of striated muscle
stri·a·tum [strī-'ā-təm] -n
- corpus striatum
- the part of the corpus striatum consisting of the caudate nucleus and putamen
strick·en ['stri-kən] -adj
- afflicted or overwhelmed by or as if by disease, misfortune, or sorrow
- made incapable or unfit
- rescuers were sent to the stricken ship
- hit or wounded by or as if by a missile
- the deer had been stricken by an arrow
strict ['strikt] -adj, adv, n
- tight, close
- intimate
- narrow
- stringent in requirement or control
- severe in discipline
- inflexibly maintained or adhered to
- rigorously conforming to principle or a norm or condition
- exact, precise
- in the strict sense of the word
- of narrow erect habit of growth
strict liability -n
- liability imposed without regard to fault
stric·ture ['strik-chər] -n
- an abnormal narrowing of a bodily passage
- the narrowed part
- a constriction of the breath passage in the production of a speech sound
- something that closely restrains or limits : restriction
- an adverse criticism : censure
stride ['strīd] -vb, n
- to stand astride
- to move with or as if with long steps
- to take a very long step
- bestride, straddle
- to step over
- to move over or along with or as if with long measured steps
- a cycle of locomotor movements (as of a horse) completed when the feet regain the initial relative positions
- the distance traversed in a stride
- the most effective natural pace : maximum competence or capability often used in the phrase hit one's stride
- a long step
- an act of striding
- a stage of progress : advance
- made great stride s toward their goal
- a manner of striding
- stride piano
stri·dence ['strī-dᵊn(t)s] -n
- stridency
stri·den·cy ['strī-dᵊn(t)-sē] -n
- the quality or state of being strident
stri·dent ['strī-dᵊnt] -adj, adv
- characterized by harsh, insistent, and discordant sound
- commanding attention by a loud or obtrusive quality
stride piano -n
- a style of jazz piano playing in which the right hand plays the melody while the left hand alternates between a single note and a chord played an octave or more higher
stri·dor ['strī-dər, -,dȯr] -n
- a harsh, shrill, or creaking noise
- a harsh vibrating sound heard during respiration in cases of obstruction of the air passages
strid·u·late ['stri-jə-,lāt] -vi, n, adj
- to make a shrill creaking noise by rubbing together special bodily structures used esp. of male insects (as crickets or grasshoppers)
strid·u·lous ['stri-jə-ləs] -adj, adv
- making a shrill creaking sound
strife ['strīf] -n, adj
- bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension
- an act of contention : fight, struggle
- exertion or contention for superiority
- earnest endeavor
strig·il ['stri-jəl] -n
- an instrument used by ancient Greeks and Romans for scraping moisture off the skin after bathing or exercising
stri·gose ['strī-,gōs] -adj
- having appressed bristles or scales
strike ['strīk] -vb
- to take a course : go
- struck off through the brush
- to aim and usu. deliver a blow, stroke, or thrust (as with the hand, a weapon, or a tool)
- to arrive with detrimental effect
- to attempt to undermine or harm something as if by a blow
- struck at...cherished notions -- R. P. Warren
- to come into contact forcefully
- two ships struck in mid channel
- to delete something
- to lower a flag usu. in surrender
- to become indicated by a clock, bell, or chime
- to make known the time by sounding
- the clock struck as they entered
- pierce, penetrate
- the wind seemed to strike through our clothes
- to engage in battle
- to make a military attack
- to become ignited
- to discover something
- struck on a new plan of attack
- to pull on a fishing rod in order to set the hook
- to seize the bait
- dart, shoot
- to take root
- germinate
- to make an impression
- to stop work in order to force an employer to comply with demands
- to make a beginning
- the need to strike vigorously for success
- to thrust oneself forward
- he struck into the midst of the argument
- to work diligently : strive
- to strike at : hit
- to drive or remove by or as if by a blow
- to attack or seize with a sharp blow (as of fangs or claws)
- inflict
- to produce by or as if by a blow or stroke
- Moses struck water from the rock
- to separate by a sharp blow
- to haul down : lower
- to dismantle and take away
- to strike the tents of (a camp)
- to afflict suddenly
- stricken by a heart attack
- to engage in (a battle) : fight
- to make a military attack on
- delete, cancel
- strike the last paragraph
- to penetrate painfully : pierce
- to cause to penetrate
- to send down or out
- trees struck roots deep into the soil
- to level (as a measure of grain) by scraping off what is above the rim
- to smooth or form (as a mold) with a tool
- to indicate by sounding
- to bring into forceful contact
- struck his head on the doorjamb
- to shake (hands) in confirming an agreement
- to thrust suddenly
- to come into contact or collision with
- to fall on
- to become audible to
- to affect with a mental or emotional state or a strong emotion
- struck with horror at the sight
- to affect a person with (a strong emotion)
- words that struck fear in the listeners
- to cause to become by or as if by a sudden blow
- to produce by stamping
- to produce (as fire) by or as if by striking
- to cause to ignite by friction
- to make and ratify the terms of
- to play or produce by stroking keys or strings
- struck a series of chords on the piano
- to produce as if by playing an instrument
- his voice struck a note of concern
- to hook (a fish) by a sharp pull on the line
- to snatch at (a bait)
- to occur to
- the answer struck me suddenly
- to appear to esp. as a revelation or as remarkable : impress
- it struck the crowd as insensitive
- bewitch
- to arrive at by or as if by computation
- to come to : attain
- to come upon : discover
- to engage in a strike against (an employer)
- take on, assume
- to place (a plant cutting) in a medium for growth and rooting
- to so propagate (a plant)
- to make one's way along
- will strike the southern coast
- to cause (an arc) to form (as between electrodes of an arc lamp)
- to oviposit on or in
- a tool for smoothing a surface (as of a mold)
- an act or instance of striking
- a work stoppage by a body of workers to enforce compliance with demands made on an employer
- a temporary stoppage of activities in protest against an act or condition
- the direction of the line of intersection of a horizontal plane with an uptilted geological stratum
- a pull on a fishing rod to strike a fish
- a pull on a line by a fish in striking
- a stroke of good luck
- a discovery of a valuable mineral deposit
- a pitched ball that is in the strike zone or is swung at and is not hit fair
- a perfectly thrown ball or pass
- disadvantage, handicap
- an act or instance of knocking down all the bowling pins with the first bowl
- establishment of roots and plant growth
- cutaneous myiasis (as of sheep)
- a military attack
- an air attack on a single objective
- a group of airplanes taking part in such an attack
strike·bound ['strīk-,bau̇nd] -adj
- subjected to a strike
strike·break·er [-,brā-kər] -n
- a person hired to replace a striking worker
strike·break·ing [-kiŋ] -n
- action designed to break up a strike
strike down -vt
- annul, nullify
- the board struck down the appointment
- to declare (a law) illegal and unenforceable
- the Supreme Court struck down the law
strike force -n
- an armed force equipped to deliver a strong offensive or retaliatory blow
- a team of federal agents assigned to investigate organized crime in a specific area
strike off -vt
- to produce in an effortless manner
- to depict clearly and exactly
strike·out ['strīk-,au̇t] -n
- an out in baseball resulting from a batter's being charged with three strikes
strike out -vi
- to enter upon a course of action
- to set out vigorously
- to make an out in baseball by a strikeout
- to finish bowling a string with consecutive strikes
- to bowl three strikes in the last frame
- fail
- to retire (as a batter) by a strikeout
strike·over ['strīk-,ō-vər] -n
- an act or instance of striking a typewriter character on a spot occupied by another character
strike price -n
- an agreed-upon price at which an option contract can be exercised called also striking price
strik·er ['strī-kər] -n
- : one that strikes: as
- a player in any of several games who is striking or attempting to strike a ball
- the hammer of the striking mechanism of a clock or watch
- a blacksmith's helper who swings the sledgehammer
- a worker on strike
- a junior enlisted man in the U.S. Navy who has declared an occupational specialty
- a forward in soccer
strikeslip ['strīk-,slip] -n
- a fault about which movement is predominantly horizontal
- a slipping movement along the strike of a fault
strike up -vi
- to begin to sing or play or to be sung or played
- to cause to begin singing or playing
- to cause to begin
strike zone -n
- the area over home plate through which a pitched baseball must pass to be called a strike
striking -adj, adv
- attracting attention or notice through unusual or conspicuous qualities
- a place of striking beauty
striking distance -n
- a distance from which something can be easily reached or attained
- almost within striking distance of their goal
string ['striŋ] -n, adj
- a cord usu. used to bind, fasten, or tie often used attributively
- something that resembles a string
- garnished with potato string s
- a cord (as a tendon or ligament) of an animal body
- a plant fiber (as a leaf vein)
- the gut, wire, or nylon cord of a musical instrument
- the stringed instruments of an orchestra
- the players of such instruments
- the gut, wire, or cord of a racket or shooting bow
- a group of objects threaded on a string
- a series of things arranged in or as if in a line
- a sequence of like items (as bits, characters, or words)
- a group of business properties scattered geographically
- the animals and esp. horses belonging to or used by one individual
- a means of recourse : expedient
- a group of players ranked according to skill or proficiency
- succession
- one of the inclined sides of a stair supporting the treads and risers
- balkline
- the action of lagging for break in billiards
- line
- contingent conditions or obligations
- control, domination
- a hypothetical one-dimensional object that is infinitely thin but has a length of 10 33centimeters, that vibrates as it moves through space, and whose mode of vibration manifests itself as a subatomic particle
- to equip with strings
- to tune the strings of
- to make tense : key up
- to thread on or as if on a string
- to thread with objects
- to tie, hang, or fasten with string
- to put together (as words or ideas) like objects threaded on a string
- strung her thoughts together
- to hang by the neck used with up
- to remove the strings of
- to extend or stretch like a string
- string wires from tree to tree
- to set out in a line or series often used with out
- to move, progress, or lie in a string
- to form into strings
- lag
- of or relating to stringed musical instruments
string along -vt
- to keep waiting
- strung him along until the boss was back from lunch
- deceive, fool
- string along ing us along with ruses and red herrings -- John Powers
- go along, agree
- held her tongue and strung along with the rest of them
string bass -n
- double bass
string bean -n
- a bean of one of the older varieties of kidney bean that have stringy fibers on the lines of separation of the pods
- snap bean
- a very tall thin person
string bikini -n
- a scanty bikini with string-like straps
string cheese -n
- cheese formed usu. into sticks that can be pulled apart in narrow strips
string·course [-,kȯrs] -n
- a horizontal band (as of bricks) in a building forming a part of the design
stringed ['striŋd] -adj
- having strings
- produced by strings
strin·gen·cy ['strin-jən(t)-sē] -n
- the quality or state of being stringent
strin·gen·do [strin-'jen-(,)dō] -adv
- with quickening of tempo (as to a climax) used as a direction in music
strin·gent ['strin-jənt] -adj, adv
- tight, constricted
- marked by rigor, strictness, or severity esp. with regard to rule or standard
- stringent decontamination procedures
- marked by money scarcity and credit strictness
string·er ['striŋ-ər] -n
- one that strings
- a string, wire, or chain often with snaps on which fish are strung by a fisherman
- a narrow vein or irregular filament of mineral traversing a rock mass of different material
- a long horizontal timber to connect uprights in a frame or to support a floor
- string
- a tie in a truss
- a longitudinal member extending from bent to bent of a railroad bridge and carrying the track
- a longitudinal member (as in an airplane fuselage or wing) to reinforce the skin
- a news correspondent who is paid space rates
- a reporter who works for a publication or news agency on a part-time basis
- correspondent
- one estimated to be of specified excellence or efficiency used in combination
string·halt ['striŋ-,hȯlt] -n, adj
- a condition of lameness in a horse's hind legs caused by muscular spasms and resulting in excessive flexion of the hock
string·ing ['striŋ-iŋ] -n
- lines of inlay in furniture decoration
- the material with which a racket is strung
string line -n
- balkline
string·piece ['striŋ-,pēs] -n
- the heavy squared timber lying along the top of the piles forming a dock front or timber pier
string quartet -n
- a composition for string quartet
- a quartet of performers on stringed instruments usu. including a first and second violin, a viola, and a cello
string theory -n
- a theory in physics: all elementary particles are manifestations of the vibrations of one-dimensional strings
string tie -n
- a narrow necktie
stringy ['striŋ-ē] -adj, n
- containing, consisting of, or resembling fibrous matter or string
- lean and sinewy in build : wiry
- capable of being drawn out to form a string : ropy
stringy·bark ['striŋ-ē-,bärk] -n
- any of several Australian eucalypti with fibrous inner bark
- the bark of a stringybark
strip ['strip] -vb, adj
- to remove clothing, covering, or surface matter from
- to deprive of possessions
- to divest of honors, privileges, or functions
- to remove extraneous or superficial matter from
- a prose style stripped to the bones
- to remove furniture, equipment, or accessories from
- to make bare or clear (as by cutting or grazing)
- to finish a milking of by pressing the last available milk from the teats
- to remove cured leaves from the stalks of (tobacco)
- to remove the midrib from (tobacco leaves)
- to tear or damage the thread of (a separable part or fitting)
- to separate (components) from a mixture or solution
- to press eggs or milt out of (a fish)
- to remove (a subcutaneous vein) by means of a surgical instrument
- stripping a varicose saphenous vein
- to take off clothes
- to perform a striptease
- peel
- a long narrow piece of a material
- a long narrow area of land or water
- airstrip
- a commercially developed area esp. along a highway
- comic strip
- striptease
stripchart recorder ['strip-,chärt-] -n
- a device used for the continuous graphic recording of time-dependent data
strip cropping ['strip-,kräp] -n, vb
- the growing of a cultivated crop (as corn) in strips alternating with strips of a sod-forming crop (as hay) arranged to follow an approximate contour of the land and minimize erosion
stripe ['strīp] -n
- a stroke or blow with a rod or lash
- to make stripes on or variegate with stripes
- a line or long narrow section differing in color or texture from parts adjoining
- a textile design consisting of lines or bands against a plain background
- a fabric with a striped design
- a narrow strip of braid or embroidery usu. in the shape of a bar, arc, or chevron that is worn (as on the sleeve of a military uniform) to indicate rank or length of service
- a distinct variety or sort : type
- persons of the same political stripe
striped ['strīpt, 'strī-pəd] -adj
- having stripes or streaks
striped bass -n
- a large anadromous silvery food and sport fish ( Morone saxatilisof the family Percichthyidae) with black horizontal stripes on the sides that occurs along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. and has been introduced into inland waters (as lakes and reservoirs) and along the Pacific coast called also rockfish
striped skunk -n
- a common No. American skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) usu. with white on the top of the head that extends posteriorly in two narrowly separated stripes
strip·er ['strī-pər] -n
- striped bass
striping -n
- the stripes marked or painted on something
- a design of stripes
- the act or process of marking with stripes
strip·ling ['stri-pliŋ] -n
- youth
strip mall -n
- a long usu. one-story building or group of buildings housing several adjacent retail stores or service establishments
strip mine -n, vb
- a mine that is worked from the earth's surface by the stripping of overburden
- a coal mine situated along the outcrop of a flat dipping bed
strippeddown ['strip(t)-'dau̇n] -adj
- lacking any extra features : simple
strip·per ['stri-pər] -n
- one that strips
- stripteaser
- a machine that separates a desired part of an agricultural crop
- an oil well that produces 10 barrels or less per day
strip poker -n
- a poker game in which players pay their losses by removing articles of clothing
strip search -n, vb
- a search for something concealed on a person made after removal of the person's clothing
strip·tease ['strip-,tēz] -n
- a burlesque act in which a performer removes clothing piece by piece
strip·teas·er [-,tē-zər] -n
- one who performs a striptease
stripy ['strī-pē] -adj
- marked by stripes or streaks
strive ['strīv] -vi, n
- to devote serious effort or energy : endeavor
- strive to finish a project
- to struggle in opposition : contend
strobe ['strōb] -n
- stroboscope
- a device that utilizes a flashtube for high-speed illumination (as in photography)
- flashtube
strobe light -n
- strobe
stro·bi·la [strō-'bī-lə, 'strō-bə-] -n
- a linear series of similar animal structures (as the proglottids of a tapeworm) produced by budding
stro·bi·la·tion [,strō-bə-'lā-shən] -n
- asexual reproduction (as in various coelenterates and tapeworms) by transverse division of the body into segments which develop into separate individuals, zooids, or proglottids
stro·bi·lus [strō-'bī-ləs, 'strō-bə-] -n
- an aggregation of sporophylls resembling a cone (as in the club mosses and horsetails)
- the cone of a gymnosperm
stro·bo·scope ['strō-bə-,skōp] -n
- : an instrument for determining the speed of cyclic motion (as rotation or vibration) that causes the motion to appear slowed or stopped: as
- a revolving disk with holes around the edge through which an object is viewed
- a device that uses a flashtube to intermittently illuminate a moving object
- a cardboard disk with marks to be viewed under intermittent light
stro·bo·scop·ic [,strō-bə-'skä-pik] -adj, adv
- of, utilizing, or relating to a stroboscope or a strobe
strode ['strīd] -vb, n
(variant of stride)
- to stand astride
- to move with or as if with long steps
- to take a very long step
- bestride, straddle
- to step over
- to move over or along with or as if with long measured steps
- a cycle of locomotor movements (as of a horse) completed when the feet regain the initial relative positions
- the distance traversed in a stride
- the most effective natural pace : maximum competence or capability often used in the phrase hit one's stride
- a long step
- an act of striding
- a stage of progress : advance
- made great stride s toward their goal
- a manner of striding
- stride piano
stroke ['strōk] -vt, n
- to rub gently in one direction
- caress
- to flatter or pay attention to in a manner designed to reassure or persuade
- the act of striking
- a blow with a weapon or implement
- a single unbroken movement
- one of a series of repeated or to-and-fro movements
- a controlled swing intended to hit a ball or shuttlecock
- a striking of the ball
- such a stroke charged to a player as a unit of scoring in golf
- a sudden action or process producing an impact
- an unexpected result
- sudden diminution or loss of consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of a blood vessel of the brain called also apoplexy brain attack cerebrovascular accident
- one of a series of propelling beats or movements against a resisting medium
- a rower who sets the pace for a crew
- a vigorous or energetic effort by which something is done, produced, or accomplished
- a brilliant diplomatic stroke
- a delicate or clever touch in a narrative, description, or construction
- heartbeat
- the movement in either direction of a mechanical part (as a piston) having a reciprocating motion
- the distance of such movement
- the sound of a bell being struck
- the specific time indicated by or as if by such a sound
- an act of stroking or caressing
- a mark or dash made by a single movement of an implement
- one of the lines of a letter of the alphabet
- to mark with a short line
- to cancel by drawing a line through
- to set the stroke for (a rowing crew)
- to set the stroke for the crew of (a rowing boat)
- hit
- to propel (a ball) with a controlled swinging blow
- to execute a stroke
- to row at a certain number of strokes a minute
stroke play -n
- golf competition scored by total number of strokes
stroll ['strōl] -vb, n
- to go from place to place in search of work or profit
- to walk in a leisurely or idle manner : ramble
- to walk at leisure along or about
stroll·er ['strō-lər] -n
- an itinerant actor
- vagrant, tramp
- one that strolls
- a collapsible carriage designed as a chair in which a small child may be pushed
stro·ma ['strō-mə] -n, adj
- a compact mass of fungal hyphae producing perithecia or pycnidia
- the colorless proteinaceous matrix of a chloroplast in which the chlorophyll-containing lamellae are embedded
- the supporting framework of an animal organ typically consisting of connective tissue
- the spongy protoplasmic framework of some cells (as a red blood cell)
stro·mat·o·lite [strō-'ma-tə-,līt] -n, adj
- a laminated usu. mounded sedimentary fossil formed from layers of cyanobacteria, calcium carbonate, and trapped sediment
strong ['strȯŋ] -adj, adv
- having or marked by great physical power
- having moral or intellectual power
- having great resources (as of wealth or talent)
- of a specified number
- an army ten thousand strong
- striking or superior of its kind
- effective or efficient esp. in a specified direction
- strong on watching other people work -- A. Alvarez
- forceful, cogent
- : not mild or weak : extreme, intense: as
- rich in some active agent
- high in chroma
- ionizing freely in solution
- magnifying by refracting greatly
- flagrant
- moving with rapidity or force
- ardent, zealous
- not easily injured or disturbed : solid
- not easily subdued or taken
- well established : firm
- not easily upset or nauseated
- having an offensive or intense odor or flavor : rank
- tending to steady or higher prices
- of, relating to, or being a verb that is inflected by a change in the root vowel (as strive, strove, striven) rather than by regular affixation
strong anthropic principle -n
- anthropic principle
strongarm ['strȯŋ-'ärm] -adj
- having or using undue force
- to use force on : assault
- bully, intimidate
- to rob by force
strong·box ['strȯŋ-,bäks] -n
- a strongly made chest or case for money or valuables
strong breeze -n
- wind having a speed of 25 to 31 miles (40 to 50 kilometers) per hour
strong drink -n
- intoxicating liquor
strong force -n
- a fundamental physical force that acts on hadrons and is responsible for the binding together of protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus and for processes of particle creation in high-energy collisions and that is the strongest known fundamental physical force but acts only over distances comparable to those between nucleons in an atomic nucleus called also strong interaction strong nuclear force
strong gale -n
- wind having a speed of 47 to 54 miles (75 to 87 kilometers) per hour
strong·hold ['strȯŋ-,hōld] -n
- a fortified place
- a place of security or survival
- one of the last stronghold s of the ancient Gaelic language -- George Holmes
- a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic
- stronghold s of snobbery -- Lionel Trilling
strong·man ['strȯŋ-,man] -n
- one who leads or controls by force of will and character or by military methods
strongmind·ed ['strȯŋ-'mīn-dəd] -adj, adv, n
- having a vigorous mind
- marked by independence of thought and judgment
strong·point ['strȯŋ-,pȯint] -n
- a strongly fortified tactical locality in a defensive position
strong room -n
- a room for money or valuables specially constructed to be fireproof and burglarproof
strong safety -n
- a safety in football who plays opposite the strong side of an offensive formation
strong side -n
- the side of a football formation having the greater number of players
- the side on which the tight end plays
strong suit -n
- a long suit containing high cards
- something in which one excels : forte
- details of legislation have never been my strong suit -- Tip O'Neill
stron·gyle ['strän-,jī(-ə)l, -jəl] -n
- any of various nematode worms (family Strongylidae) related to the hookworms and parasitic esp. in the intestines and tissues of horses
stron·gy·loi·di·a·sis [,strän-jə-,lȯi-'dī-ə-səs] -n
- infestation with or disease caused by any of a genus ( Strongyloides) of strongyles that parasitize esp. the intestines of vertebrates including humans
stron·tian·ite ['strän(t)-shə-,nīt] -n
- a mineral consisting of a carbonate of strontium and occurring in various forms and colors
stron·tium ['strän(t)-sh(ē-)əm, 'strän-tē-əm] -n
- a soft malleable ductile metallic element of the alkaline-earth group occurring only in combination and used esp. in color TV tubes, in crimson fireworks, and in the production of some ferrites
strontium 90 -n
- a heavy radioactive isotope of strontium of mass number 90 that has a half-life of 29 years, that is present in nuclear waste and fallout, and that is hazardous because like calcium it can be assimilated in biological processes and deposited in the bones of human beings and animals
strop ['sträp] -n
- : strap:
- a short rope with its ends spliced to form a circle
- a usu. leather band for sharpening a razor
- to sharpen (a razor) on a strop
stro·phan·thin [strō-'fan(t)-thən] -n
- any of several glycosides (as ouabain) or mixtures of glycosides from African plants (genera Strophanthusand Acokanthera) of the dogbane family
- a bitter toxic glycoside C 36H 54O 14from a woody vine ( Strophanthus kombe) used similarly to digitalis
stro·phe ['strō-(,)fē] -n
- a rhythmic system composed of two or more lines repeated as a unit
- such a unit recurring in a series of strophic units
- stanza
- the movement of the classical Greek chorus while turning from one side to the other of the orchestra
- the part of a Greek choral ode sung during the strophe of the dance
stro·phic ['strō-fik, 'strä-] -adj
- relating to, containing, or consisting of strophes
- using the same music for successive stanzas
strop·py ['strä-pē] -adj
- touchy, belligerent
stroud ['strau̇d] -n
- a coarse woolen cloth formerly used in trade with No. American Indians
- a blanket or garment of stroud
strove ['strīv] -vi, n
(variant of strive)
- to devote serious effort or energy : endeavor
- strive to finish a project
- to struggle in opposition : contend
strow ['strō] -vt
- scatter
stroy -vb
- destroy
struck ['strīk] -vb
(variant of strike)
- to take a course : go
- struck off through the brush
- to aim and usu. deliver a blow, stroke, or thrust (as with the hand, a weapon, or a tool)
- to arrive with detrimental effect
- to attempt to undermine or harm something as if by a blow
- struck at...cherished notions -- R. P. Warren
- to come into contact forcefully
- two ships struck in mid channel
- to delete something
- to lower a flag usu. in surrender
- to become indicated by a clock, bell, or chime
- to make known the time by sounding
- the clock struck as they entered
- pierce, penetrate
- the wind seemed to strike through our clothes
- to engage in battle
- to make a military attack
- to become ignited
- to discover something
- struck on a new plan of attack
- to pull on a fishing rod in order to set the hook
- to seize the bait
- dart, shoot
- to take root
- germinate
- to make an impression
- to stop work in order to force an employer to comply with demands
- to make a beginning
- the need to strike vigorously for success
- to thrust oneself forward
- he struck into the midst of the argument
- to work diligently : strive
- to strike at : hit
- to drive or remove by or as if by a blow
- to attack or seize with a sharp blow (as of fangs or claws)
- inflict
- to produce by or as if by a blow or stroke
- Moses struck water from the rock
- to separate by a sharp blow
- to haul down : lower
- to dismantle and take away
- to strike the tents of (a camp)
- to afflict suddenly
- stricken by a heart attack
- to engage in (a battle) : fight
- to make a military attack on
- delete, cancel
- strike the last paragraph
- to penetrate painfully : pierce
- to cause to penetrate
- to send down or out
- trees struck roots deep into the soil
- to level (as a measure of grain) by scraping off what is above the rim
- to smooth or form (as a mold) with a tool
- to indicate by sounding
- to bring into forceful contact
- struck his head on the doorjamb
- to shake (hands) in confirming an agreement
- to thrust suddenly
- to come into contact or collision with
- to fall on
- to become audible to
- to affect with a mental or emotional state or a strong emotion
- struck with horror at the sight
- to affect a person with (a strong emotion)
- words that struck fear in the listeners
- to cause to become by or as if by a sudden blow
- to produce by stamping
- to produce (as fire) by or as if by striking
- to cause to ignite by friction
- to make and ratify the terms of
- to play or produce by stroking keys or strings
- struck a series of chords on the piano
- to produce as if by playing an instrument
- his voice struck a note of concern
- to hook (a fish) by a sharp pull on the line
- to snatch at (a bait)
- to occur to
- the answer struck me suddenly
- to appear to esp. as a revelation or as remarkable : impress
- it struck the crowd as insensitive
- bewitch
- to arrive at by or as if by computation
- to come to : attain
- to come upon : discover
- to engage in a strike against (an employer)
- take on, assume
- to place (a plant cutting) in a medium for growth and rooting
- to so propagate (a plant)
- to make one's way along
- will strike the southern coast
- to cause (an arc) to form (as between electrodes of an arc lamp)
- to oviposit on or in
- a tool for smoothing a surface (as of a mold)
- an act or instance of striking
- a work stoppage by a body of workers to enforce compliance with demands made on an employer
- a temporary stoppage of activities in protest against an act or condition
- the direction of the line of intersection of a horizontal plane with an uptilted geological stratum
- a pull on a fishing rod to strike a fish
- a pull on a line by a fish in striking
- a stroke of good luck
- a discovery of a valuable mineral deposit
- a pitched ball that is in the strike zone or is swung at and is not hit fair
- a perfectly thrown ball or pass
- disadvantage, handicap
- an act or instance of knocking down all the bowling pins with the first bowl
- establishment of roots and plant growth
- cutaneous myiasis (as of sheep)
- a military attack
- an air attack on a single objective
- a group of airplanes taking part in such an attack
struc·tur·al ['strək-chə-rəl, 'strək-shrəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the physical makeup of a plant or animal body
- structural defects of the heart
- of, relating to, or affecting structure
- used in building structures
- involved in or caused by structure esp. of the economy
- of, relating to, or resulting from the effects of folding or faulting of the earth's crust : tectonic
- concerned with or relating to structure rather than history or comparison
structural formula -n
- an expanded molecular formula showing the arrangement within the molecule of atoms and of bonds
structural gene -n
- a gene that codes for the amino acid sequence of a protein (as an enzyme) or for a ribosomal RNA or transfer RNA
struc·tur·al·ism ['strək-chə-rə-,li-zəm, 'strək-shrə-] -n, n or adj
- psychology concerned esp. with resolution of the mind into structural elements
- structural linguistics
- an anthropological movement associated esp. with Claude Levi-Strauss that seeks to analyze social relationships in terms of highly abstract relational structures often expressed in a logical symbolism
- a method of analysis (as of a literary text or a political system) that is related to cultural anthropology and that focuses on recurring patterns of thought and behavior
structural isomer -n
- one of two or more compounds that contain the same number and kinds of atoms but that differ significantly in their geometric arrangement
struc·tur·al·ize ['strək-chə-rə-,līz, 'strək-shrə-,līz] -vt, n
- to organize or incorporate into a structure
structural steel -n
- rolled steel in structural shapes
- steel suitable for structural shapes
struc·tur·a·tion [,strək-chə-'rā-shən, -shə-'rā-] -n
- the interrelation of parts in an organized whole
struc·ture ['strək-chər] -n, adj
- the action of building : construction
- something (as a building) that is constructed
- something arranged in a definite pattern of organization
- a rigid totalitarian structure -- J. L. Hess
- leaves and other plant structure s
- manner of construction : makeup
- the arrangement of particles or parts in a substance or body
- organization of parts as dominated by the general character of the whole
- coherent form or organization
- tried to give some structure to the children's lives
- the aggregate of elements of an entity in their relationships to each other
- the structure of a language
structure ['strək-chə-riŋ, 'strək-shriŋ] -vt
- to form into or according to a structure
- construct
structured -adj
- of, relating to, or being a method of computer programming in which each step of the solution to a problem is contained in a separate subprogram
stru·del ['strü-dᵊl, 'shtrü-] -n
- a pastry made from a thin sheet of dough rolled up with filling and baked
strug·gle ['strə-gəl] -vi, n
- to make strenuous or violent efforts in the face of difficulties or opposition
- struggling with the problem
- to proceed with difficulty or with great effort
- struggled through the high grass
- struggling to make a living
struggle -n
- contest, strife
- a violent effort or exertion : an act of strongly motivated striving
- a struggle to make ends meet
- tussle
- during the struggle the gun went off
struggle for existence
- the automatic competition of members of a natural population for limited vital resources (as food, space, or light) that results in natural selection
strum ['strəm] -n
- an act, instance, or sound of strumming
- to brush the fingers over the strings of (a musical instrument) in playing
- thrum
- to play (music) on a stringed instrument
- to cause to sound vibrantly
- winds strummed the rigging -- H. A. Chippendale
- to strum a stringed instrument
- to sound vibrantly
stru·ma ['strü-mə] -n
- goiter
strum·pet ['strəm-pət] -n
- prostitute
strung ['striŋ] -n, adj
(variant of string)
- a cord usu. used to bind, fasten, or tie often used attributively
- something that resembles a string
- garnished with potato string s
- a cord (as a tendon or ligament) of an animal body
- a plant fiber (as a leaf vein)
- the gut, wire, or nylon cord of a musical instrument
- the stringed instruments of an orchestra
- the players of such instruments
- the gut, wire, or cord of a racket or shooting bow
- a group of objects threaded on a string
- a series of things arranged in or as if in a line
- a sequence of like items (as bits, characters, or words)
- a group of business properties scattered geographically
- the animals and esp. horses belonging to or used by one individual
- a means of recourse : expedient
- a group of players ranked according to skill or proficiency
- succession
- one of the inclined sides of a stair supporting the treads and risers
- balkline
- the action of lagging for break in billiards
- line
- contingent conditions or obligations
- control, domination
- a hypothetical one-dimensional object that is infinitely thin but has a length of 10 33centimeters, that vibrates as it moves through space, and whose mode of vibration manifests itself as a subatomic particle
- to equip with strings
- to tune the strings of
- to make tense : key up
- to thread on or as if on a string
- to thread with objects
- to tie, hang, or fasten with string
- to put together (as words or ideas) like objects threaded on a string
- strung her thoughts together
- to hang by the neck used with up
- to remove the strings of
- to extend or stretch like a string
- string wires from tree to tree
- to set out in a line or series often used with out
- to move, progress, or lie in a string
- to form into strings
- lag
- of or relating to stringed musical instruments
strung out -adj
- physically debilitated (as from long-term drug addiction)
- addicted to a drug
- intoxicated or stupefied from drug use
strunt ['strənt] -vi
- strut
strut ['strət] -vb, n
- to become turgid : swell
- to walk with a proud gait
- to walk with a pompous and affected air
- to parade (as clothes) with a show of pride
- a structural piece designed to resist pressure in the direction of its length
- a pompous step or walk
- arrogant behavior : swagger
- to provide, stiffen, support, or hold apart with or as if with a strut
stru·thi·ous ['strü-thē-əs, -thē-] -adj
- of or relating to the ostriches and related birds
strych·nine ['strik-,nīn, -nən, -,nēn] -n
- a bitter poisonous alkaloid C 21H 22N 2O 2that is obtained from nux vomica and related plants (genus Strychnos) and is used as a poison (as for rodents) and medicinally as a stimulant of the central nervous system
Stu·art ['stü-ərt, 'styü-; 'st(y)u̇rt] -adj, n
- of or relating to the Scottish royal house to which belonged the rulers of Scotland from 1371 to 1603 and of Great Britain from 1603 to 1649 and from 1660 to 1714
stub ['stəb] -n
- stump
- a short piece remaining on a stem or trunk where a branch has been lost
- something made or worn to a short or blunt shape
- a pen with a short blunt nib
- a short blunt part left after a larger part has been broken off or used up
- something cut short or stunted
- a small part of a leaf (as of a checkbook) attached to the spine for memoranda of the contents of the part torn away
- the part of a ticket returned to the user
- to grub up by the roots
- to clear (land) by grubbing out rooted growth
- to hew or cut down (a tree) close to the ground
- to extinguish (as a cigarette) by crushing
- to strike (one's foot or toe) against an object
stub·ble ['stə-bəl] -n, adj
- the basal part of herbaceous plants and esp. cereal grasses remaining attached to the soil after harvest
- a rough surface or growth resembling stubble
- a short growth of beard
stubble mulch -n
- a lightly tilled mulch of plant residue used to prevent erosion, conserve moisture, and add organic matter to the soil
stub·born ['stə-bərn] -adj, adv, n
- unreasonably or perversely unyielding : mulish
- justifiably unyielding : resolute
- suggestive or typical of a strong stubborn nature
- performed or carried on in an unyielding, obstinate, or persistent manner
- difficult to handle, manage, or treat
- lasting
stub·by ['stə-bē] -adj
- abounding with stubs
- resembling a stub : being short and thick
- being short and thickset : squat
- being short, broad, or blunt (as from use or wear)
stuc·co ['stə-(,)kō] -n, adj
- a fine plaster used in decoration and ornamentation (as of interior walls)
- a material usu. made of portland cement, sand, and a small percentage of lime and applied in a plastic state to form a hard covering for exterior walls
- stuccowork
stuc·co·work ['stə-kō-,wərk] -n
- work done in stucco
stuck ['stik] -n, adj
(variant of stick)
- : a woody piece or part of a tree or shrub: as
- a usu. dry or dead severed shoot, twig, or slender branch
- a cut or broken branch or piece of wood gathered for fuel or construction material
- : a long slender piece of wood or metal: as
- a club or staff used as a weapon
- walking stick
- an implement used for striking or propelling an object in a game
- something used to force compliance
- a baton symbolizing an office or dignity
- a person entitled to bear such a baton
- a piece of the materials composing something (as a building)
- : any of various implements resembling a stick in shape, origin, or use: as
- composing stick
- an airplane lever operating the elevators and ailerons
- the gearshift lever of an automobile
- something prepared (as by cutting, molding, or rolling) in a relatively long and slender often cylindrical form
- person, chap
- a dull, inert, stiff, or spiritless person
- remote usu. rural districts regarded esp. as backward, dull, or unsophisticated : boondocks
- an herbaceous stalk resembling a woody stick
- mast
- yard
- a piece of furniture
- a number of bombs arranged for release from a bombing plane in a series across a target
- a number of parachutists dropping together
- a marijuana cigarette
- punishment or the threat of punishment used to force compliance or cooperation
- choosing between the carrot and the stick
- criticism, abuse
- to hit or propel (as a hockey puck) with a stick
- to pierce with something pointed : stab
- to kill by piercing
- to push or thrust so as or as if to pierce
- to fasten by thrusting in
- impale
- push, thrust
- to put or set in a specified place or position
- to furnish with things fastened on by or as if by piercing
- to attach by or as if by causing to adhere to a surface
- to compel to pay esp. by trickery
- got stuck with the bar bill
- overcharge
- to halt the movement or action of
- baffle, stump
- cheat, defraud
- to saddle with something disadvantageous or disagreeable
- is still stuck with that lousy car
- to execute (a landing) flawlessly in gymnastics
- : to hold to something firmly by or as if by adhesion:
- to become fixed in place by means of a pointed end
- to become fast by or as if by miring or by gluing or plastering
- to remain in a place, situation, or environment
- to hold fast or adhere resolutely : cling
- to remain effective
- to keep close in a chase or competition
- to become blocked, wedged, or jammed
- balk, scruple
- to find oneself baffled
- to be unable to proceed
- project, protrude
- a thrust with a pointed instrument : stab
- delay, stop
- impediment
- adhesive quality or substance
stuckup ['stək-'əp] -adj
- conceited, snobbish
stud ['stəd] -n
- a group of animals and esp. horses kept primarily for breeding
- a place (as a farm) where a stud is kept
- studhorse
- a male animal kept for breeding
- a young man : guy
- one who is virile and promiscuous
- a tough person
- hunk
- one of the smaller uprights in the framing of the walls of a building to which sheathing, paneling, or laths are fastened : scantling
- height from floor to ceiling
- a boss, rivet, or nail with a large head used (as on a shield or belt) for ornament or protection
- a solid button with a shank or eye on the back inserted (as through an eyelet in a garment) as a fastener or ornament
- a small button-like ornament with a post for inserting through a body part (as the earlobe or nostril) and into a clasp
- any of various infixed pieces (as a rod or pin) projecting from a machine and serving chiefly as a support or axis
- one of the metal or rubber cleats projecting from a snow tire to increase traction
- to furnish (as a building or wall) with studs
- to adorn, cover, or protect with studs
- to set, mark, or decorate conspicuously often at intervals
- a career studded with honors
- student
stud·book ['stəd-,bu̇k] -n
- an official record (as in a book) of the pedigree of purebred animals (as horses or dogs)
- a record of the lineage of a wild animal bred in captivity (as at a zoo)
studding -n
- the studs of a building or wall
stud·ding sail ['stə-diŋ-,sāl, 'stən(t)-səl] -n
- a light sail set at the side of a principal square sail of a ship in free winds
stu·dent ['stü-dᵊnt, 'styü-, chiefly Southern -dənt] -n
- scholar, learner
- one who attends a school
- one who studies : an attentive and systematic observer
student body -n
- the students at an educational institution
student government -n
- the organization and management of student life by various student organizations
student lamp -n
- a desk reading lamp with a tubular shaft, one or two arms for a shaded light, and orig. an oil reservoir
stu·dent·ship ['stü-dᵊnt-,ship, 'styü-, -dənt-] -n
- a grant for university study
- the state of being a student
stu·dent's t distribution ['stü-dᵊn(t)s-, -dən(t)s-] -n
- t distribution
Student's ttest -n
- t-test
student teacher -n
- a student who is engaged in practice teaching
student teaching -n
- practice teaching
student union -n
- a building on a college campus that is devoted to student activities and that usu. contains lounges, auditoriums, offices, and game rooms
stud·horse ['stəd-,hȯrs] -n
- a stallion kept esp. for breeding
stud·ied ['stə-dēd] -adj, adv, n
- carefully considered or prepared : thoughtful
- knowledgeable, learned
- studied in the craft of blacksmithing
- produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation : calculated
- spoke with a studied accent
stu·dio ['stü-dē-(,)ō, 'styü-] -n
- the working place of a painter, sculptor, or photographer
- a place for the study of an art (as dancing, singing, or acting)
- a place where motion pictures are made
- a company that produces motion pictures
- a place maintained and equipped for the transmission of radio or television programs
- a place where audio recordings are made
- studio apartment
studio apartment -n
- a small apartment consisting typically of a main room, kitchenette, and bathroom
studio couch -n
- an upholstered usu. backless couch that can be made to serve as a double bed by sliding from underneath it the frame of a single cot
stu·di·ous ['stü-dē-əs, 'styü-] -adj, adv, n
- assiduous in the pursuit of learning
- of, relating to, or concerned with study
- favorable to study
- diligent or earnest in intent
- marked by or suggesting purposefulness or diligence
- a studious expression on his face
- deliberately or consciously planned
- studious avoidance of gender-specific pronouns
stud·ly ['stəd-lē] -adj
- attractively masculine : hunky
stud poker -n
- poker in which each player is dealt the first card facedown and the other four cards faceup with a round of betting taking place after each of the last four rounds of dealing
study ['stə-dē] -n
- a state of contemplation : reverie
- application of the mental faculties to the acquisition of knowledge
- such application in a particular field or to a specific subject
- careful or extended consideration
- the proposal is under study
- a careful examination or analysis of a phenomenon, development, or question
- the published report of such a study
- a building or room devoted to study or literary pursuits
- purpose, intent
- it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses -- Jane Austen
- a branch or department of learning : subject often used in pl.
- the activity or work of a student
- returning to her studies after vacation
- an object of study or deliberation
- every gesture a careful study -- Marcia Davenport
- something attracting close attention or examination
- a person who learns or memorizes something (as a part in a play) usu. used with a qualifying adjective
- a literary or artistic production intended as a preliminary outline, an experimental interpretation, or an exploratory analysis of specific features or characteristics
- a musical composition for the practice of a point of technique
- to engage in study
- to undertake formal study of a subject
- meditate, reflect
- endeavor, try
- to read in detail esp. with the intention of learning
- to engage in the study of
- plot, design
- to consider attentively or in detail
- study ing his face for a reaction
study hall -n
- a room in a school set aside for study
- a period in a student's day set aside for study and homework
stuff ['stəf] -n, adj
- : materials, supplies, or equipment used in various activities: as
- military baggage
- personal property
- material to be manufactured, wrought, or used in construction
- clear half-inch pine stuff -- Emily Holt
- a finished textile suitable for clothing
- wool or worsted material
- literary or artistic production
- writing, discourse, talk, or ideas of little value : trash
- an unspecified material substance or aggregate of matter
- volcanic rock is curious stuff
- something (as a drug or food) consumed or introduced into the body by humans
- a matter to be considered
- the truth was heady stuff
- a group or scattering of miscellaneous objects or articles
- pick that stuff up off the floor
- nonphysical unspecified material
- conservation and...all kinds of good stuff -- Eric Korn
- fundamental material : substance
- subject matter
- a teacher who knows her stuff
- special knowledge or capability
- spin imparted to a thrown or hit ball to make it curve or change course
- the movement of a baseball pitch out of its apparent line of flight : the liveliness of a pitch
- greatest pitcher of my time...had tremendous stuff -- Ted Williams
- dunk shot
- to fill by packing things in : cram
- the boy stuff ed his pockets with candy
- to fill to satiety : surfeit
- stuff ed themselves with turkey
- to prepare (meat or vegetables) by filling or lining with a stuffing
- to fill (as a cushion) with a soft material
- to fill out the skin of (an animal) for mounting
- to fill by intellectual effort
- stuff ing their heads with facts
- to pack full of something immaterial
- a book stuff ed with information
- to fill or block up (as nasal passages)
- to cause to enter or fill : thrust
- stuff ed a lot of clothing into a laundry bag
- to put (as a ball or puck) into a goal forcefully from close range
- used in the imperative to express contempt
- if they didn't like it, stuff 'em -- Eric Clapton
often used in the phrases stuff it and get stuffed - to stop (a ballcarrier) abruptly in a football game
- stuff ed the runner just short of a first down
stuffed shirt -n
- a smug, conceited, and usu. pompous person often with an inflexibly conservative or reactionary attitude
stuff·er ['stə-fər] -n
- one that stuffs
- an enclosure (as a leaflet) inserted in an envelope in addition to a bill, statement, or notice
- a series of extra threads or yarn running lengthwise in a fabric to add weight and bulk and to form a backing esp. for carpets
stuff·ing ['stə-fiŋ] -n
- material used to stuff
- a seasoned mixture used to stuff food (as meat, vegetables, or eggs)
stuffing box -n
- a device that prevents leakage along a moving part (as a connecting rod) passing through a hole in a vessel (as a cylinder) containing steam, water, or oil and that consists of a box or chamber made by enlarging the hole and a gland to compress the contained packing
stuffy ['stə-fē] -adj, adv, n
- ill-natured, ill-humored
- lacking in vitality or interest : stodgy, dull
- oppressive to the breathing : close
- stuffed up
- narrowly inflexible in standards of conduct : self-righteous
- stiffly conventional : priggish
stul·ti·fy ['stəl-tə-,fī] -vt, n
- to allege or prove to be of unsound mind and hence not responsible
- to cause to appear or be stupid, foolish, or absurdly illogical
- to impair, invalidate, or make ineffective : negate
- to have a dulling or inhibiting effect on
stum·ble ['stəm-bəl] -vb, n, adv
- to fall into sin or waywardness
- to make an error : blunder
- to come to an obstacle to belief
- to trip in walking or running
- to walk unsteadily or clumsily
- to speak or act in a hesitant or faltering manner
- to come unexpectedly or by chance
- to fall or move carelessly
- to cause to stumble : trip
- bewilder, confound
stumble -n
- an act or instance of stumbling
stum·ble·bum ['stəm-bəl-,bəm] -n
- a clumsy or inept person
- an inept boxer
stum·bling block ['stəm-bliŋ-] -n
- an obstacle to progress
- an impediment to belief or understanding : perplexity
stump ['stəmp] -n
- the basal portion of a bodily part remaining after the rest is removed
- a rudimentary or vestigial bodily part
- the part of a plant and esp. a tree remaining attached to the root after the trunk is cut
- a remaining part : stub
- one of the pointed rods stuck in the ground to form a cricket wicket
- a place or occasion for public speaking (as for a cause or candidate)
- the circuit followed by a maker of such speeches used esp. in the phrase on the stump
- to reduce to a stump : trim
- dare, challenge
- to frustrate the progress or efforts of : baffle
- to clear (land) of stumps
- to travel over (a region) making political speeches or supporting a cause
- to walk over heavily or clumsily
- stub
- to walk heavily or clumsily
- to go about making political speeches or supporting a cause
- a short thick roll of leather, felt, or paper usu. pointed at both ends and used for shading or blending a drawing in crayon, pencil, charcoal, pastel, or chalk
- to tone or treat (a drawing) with a stump
stump·age ['stəm-pij] -n
- the value of standing timber
- uncut marketable timber
- the right to cut it
stumptailed macaque ['stəmp-'tāl(d)-] -n
- a dark reddish-brown naked-faced short-tailed macaque ( Macaca arctoidessyn. M. speciosa) of eastern Asia called also stump-tailed monkey
stump work -n
- embroidery with intricate padded designs or scenes in high relief popular esp. in the 17th century
stumpy ['stəm-pē] -adj
- short and thick : stubby
- full of stumps
stun ['stən] -vt
- to make senseless, groggy, or dizzy by or as if by a blow : daze
- to shock with noise
- to overcome esp. with paralyzing astonishment or disbelief
- the effect of something that stuns : shock
stung ['stiŋ] -vb, adv
(variant of sting)
- : to prick painfully: as
- to pierce or wound with a poisonous or irritating process
- to affect with sharp quick pain or smart
- to cause to suffer acutely
- overcharge, cheat
- to wound one with or as if with a sting
- to feel a keen burning pain or smart
- to cause such pain
- the act of stinging
- the thrust of a stinger into the flesh
- a wound or pain caused by or as if by stinging
- stinger
- a sharp or stinging element, force, or quality
- an elaborate confidence game
- such a game worked by undercover police in order to trap criminals
stun gun -n
- a weapon designed to stun or immobilize (as by electric shock) rather than kill or injure the one affected
stunk ['stiŋk] -vi, adj
(variant of stink)
- to emit a strong offensive odor
- to be offensive
- the election stank of corruption
- to be in bad repute
- to possess something to an offensive degree
- to be extremely bad or unpleasant
- a strong offensive odor : stench
- a public outcry against something : fuss
- made a big stink when asked to leave
stun·ner ['stə-nər] -n
- one that stuns or is stunning
stunning -adj, adv
- causing astonishment or disbelief
- strikingly impressive esp. in beauty or excellence
stunt ['stənt] -vt, n
- to hinder the normal growth, development, or progress of
- one (as an animal) that is stunted
- a check in growth
- a plant disease in which dwarfing occurs
- an unusual or difficult feat requiring great skill or daring
- one performed or undertaken chiefly to gain attention or publicity
- a shifting or switching of the positions by defensive players at the line of scrimmage in football to disrupt the opponent's blocking efforts
- to perform or engage in a stunt
stunt·man ['stənt-,man] -n
- a man who performs stunts
- one who doubles for an actor during the filming of stunts and dangerous scenes
stunt·wom·an [-,wu̇-mən] -n
- a woman who doubles for an actress during the filming of stunts and dangerous scenes
stu·pa ['stü-pə] -n
- a usu. dome-shaped structure (as a mound) serving as a Buddhist shrine
stupe ['stüp, 'styüp] -n
- a hot wet often medicated cloth applied externally (as to stimulate circulation)
- a stupid person : dolt
stu·pe·fac·tion [,stü-pə-'fak-shən, ,styü-] -n
- the act of stupefying : the state of being stupefied
stu·pe·fy ['stü-pə-,fī, 'styü-] -vt, adv
- to make stupid, groggy, or insensible
- astonish, astound
stu·pen·dous [stu̇-'pen-dəs, styu̇-] -adj, adv, n
- causing astonishment or wonder : awesome, marvelous
- of amazing size or greatness : tremendous
stu·pid ['stü-pəd, 'styü-] -adj, adv, n
- slow of mind : obtuse
- given to unintelligent decisions or acts : acting in an unintelligent or careless manner
- lacking intelligence or reason : brutish
- dulled in feeling or sensation : torpid
- still stupid from the sedative
- marked by or resulting from unreasoned thinking or acting : senseless
- lacking interest or point
- vexatious, exasperating
- the stupid car won't start
stupid -n
- a stupid person
stu·pid·i·ty [stu̇-'pi-də-tē, styu̇-] -n
- the quality or state of being stupid
- a stupid idea or act
stu·por ['stü-pər, 'styü-] -n
- a condition of greatly dulled or completely suspended sense or sensibility
- a state of extreme apathy or torpor resulting often from stress or shock : daze
stu·por·ous ['stü-p(ə-)rəs, 'styü-] -adj
- marked or affected by or as if by stupor
- had been taken, gray and stuporous, to the hospital -- Oliver Sacks
stur·dy ['stər-dē] -adj, adv, n
- firmly built or constituted : stout
- hardy
- sound in design or execution : substantial
- marked by or reflecting physical strength or vigor
- firm, resolute
- rugged, stable
stur·geon ['stər-jən] -n
- any of a family (Acipenseridae) of usu. large elongate anadromous or freshwater bony fishes which are widely distributed in the north temperate zone and whose roe is made into caviar
Sturm und Drang [,shtu̇rm-u̇nt-'dräŋ, ,stu̇rm-, -ənt-] -n
- a late 18th century German literary movement characterized by works containing rousing action and high emotionalism that often deal with the individual's revolt against society
- turmoil
sturt ['stərt] -n
- contention
stut·ter ['stə-tər] -vb, n
- to speak with involuntary disruption or blocking of speech (as by spasmodic repetition or prolongation of vocal sounds)
- to move or act in a halting or spasmodic manner
- the old jalopy bucks and stutter s uphill -- William Cleary
- to say, speak, or sound with or as if with a stutter
stutter -n
- an act or instance of stuttering
- a speech disorder involving stuttering
stutter step -n, vb
- a momentary hesitation or false step by a runner (as in football) done to fake a defender out of position
STV -abbr
- subscription television
sty ['stī] -n
- pigpen
- to lodge or keep in a sty
- to live in a sty
- an inflamed swelling of a sebaceous gland at the margin of an eyelid
sty·gian ['sti-j(ē-)ən] -adj
- of or relating to the river Styx
- extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding
- the stygian blackness of the cave
styl- -comb form
- style : styloid process
sty·lar ['stī-lər, -,lär] -adj
- of or relating to the style of a plant ovary
style ['stī(-ə)l] -n, adj
- designation, title
- a distinctive manner of expression (as in writing or speech)
- writes with more attention to style than to content
- the flowery style of 18th century prose
- a distinctive manner or custom of behaving or conducting oneself
- the formal style of the court
- a particular mode of living
- a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed
- a unique style of horseback riding
- the classical style of dance
- stylus
- gnomon
- the filiform usu. elongated part of the pistil bearing a stigma at its apex
- a slender elongated process (as a bristle) on an animal
- a distinctive quality, form, or type of something
- the Greek style of architecture
- the state of being popular : fashion
- clothes that are always in style
- fashionable elegance
- beauty, grace, or ease of manner or technique
- an awkward moment she handled with style
- a convention with respect to spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and typographic arrangement and display followed in writing or printing
- to call or designate by an identifying term : name
- to give a particular style to
- to design, make, or arrange in accord with the prevailing mode
style·book -n
- a book explaining, describing, or illustrating a prevailing, accepted, or authorized style
sty·let [stī-'let, 'stī-lət] -n
- a slender surgical probe
- a thin wire inserted into a catheter to maintain rigidity or into a hollow needle to maintain patency
- a pointed instrument (as for graving)
- a relatively rigid elongated organ or appendage (as a piercing mouthpart) of an animal
- stiletto
sty·li·form ['stī-lə-,fȯrm] -adj
- resembling a style : bristle-shaped
- a styliform copulatory organ
styling -n
- the way in which something is styled
styl·ise ['stī(-ə)-,līz] -vt, n
(variant of stylize)
- to conform to a conventional style
- to represent or design according to a style or stylistic pattern rather than according to nature or tradition
styl·ish ['stī-lish] -adj, adv, n
- having style
- conforming to current fashion
styl·ist ['stī-list] -n
- a master or model of style
- a writer or speaker who is eminent in matters of style
- a person (as a writer or singer) noted for a distinctive style
- a person who develops, designs, or advises on styles
- hairstylist
sty·lis·tic [stī-'lis-tik] -adj, adv
- of or relating esp. to literary or artistic style
sty·lis·tics [stī-'lis-tiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- an aspect of literary study that emphasizes the analysis of various elements of style (as metaphor and diction)
- the study of the devices in a language that produce expressive value
sty·lite ['stī-,līt] -n, adj
- a Christian ascetic living atop a pillar
styl·ize ['stī(-ə)-,līz] -vt, n
- to conform to a conventional style
- to represent or design according to a style or stylistic pattern rather than according to nature or tradition
sty·lo·bate ['stī-lə-,bāt] -n
- a continuous flat coping or pavement supporting a row of architectural columns
sty·log·ra·phy [stī-'lä-grə-fē] -n
- a mode of writing or tracing lines by means of a style or similar instrument
sty·loid ['stī(-ə)-,lȯid] -adj
- resembling a style : styliform used esp. of slender pointed skeletal processes (as on the ulna)
sty·lus ['stī-ləs] -n
- : an instrument for writing, marking, or incising: as
- an instrument used by the ancients in writing on clay or waxed tablets
- a hard-pointed pen-shaped instrument for marking on stencils used in a reproducing machine
- needle
- a cutting tool used to produce an original record groove during disc recording
- a pen-shaped pointing device used for entering data (as positional information from a graphics tablet) into a computer
sty·mie ['stī-mē] -vt
- to present an obstacle to : stand in the way of
styp·tic ['stip-tik] -adj, n
- tending to contract or bind : astringent
- tending to check bleeding
styptic pencil -n
- a stick of a medicated styptic substance for use esp. in shaving to stop the bleeding from small cuts
sty·rax ['stī-,raks] -n
- storax
sty·rene ['stī-,rēn] -n
- a fragrant liquid unsaturated hydrocarbon C 8H 8used chiefly in making synthetic rubber, resins, and plastics and in improving drying oils
- any of various synthetic plastics made from styrene by polymerization or copolymerization
Sty·ro·foam ['stī-rə-,fōm] -trademark
- used for an expanded rigid polystyrene plastic
Styx ['stiks] -n
- the principal river of the underworld in Greek mythology