stay

Noun

• (nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar

• a thin strip of metal or bone that is used to stiffen a garment (e.g. a corset)

• a judicial order forbidding some action until an event occurs or the order is lifted
  • the Supreme Court has the power to stay an injunction pending an appeal to the whole Court
    

• the state of inactivity following an interruption
  • the negotiations were in arrest
    
  • held them in check
    
  • during the halt he got some lunch
    
  • the momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow
    
  • he spent the entire stop in his seat
    

• continuing or remaining in a place or state
  • they had a nice stay in Paris
    
  • a lengthy hospital stay
    
  • a four-month stay in bankruptcy court
    

Verb

• overcome or allay
  • quell my hunger
    

• fasten with stays

• stop a judicial process
  • The judge stayed the execution order
    

• hang on during a trial of endurance
  • ride out the storm
    

• stay behind
  • The smell stayed in the room
    
  • The hostility remained long after they made up
    

• stop or halt
  • Please stay the bloodshed!
    

• remain behind
  • I had to stay at home and watch the children
    

• continue in a place, position, or situation
  • After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser
    
  • Stay with me, please
    
  • despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year
    
  • She continued as deputy mayor for another year
    

• dwell
  • You can stay with me while you are in town
    
  • stay a bit longer--the day is still young
    

• stay put (in a certain place); we are not moving to Cincinnati"
  • We are staying in Detroit
    
  • Stay put in the corner here!
    
  • Stick around and you will learn something!
    

• stay the same; remain in a certain state
  • The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it
    
  • rest assured
    
  • stay alone
    
  • He remained unmoved by her tears
    
  • The bad weather continued for another week
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  arrest , check , halt , hitch , stop , stoppage , quell , appease , last out , ride out , outride , persist , remain , detain , delay , stay on , continue , bide , abide , stick , stick around , stay put , rest
• Antonyms: 
  depart , take leave , quit , move , change