| Stay 1. (n.) A large, strong rope, employed to support a mast, by being extended from the head of one mast down to some other, or to some part of the vessel. Those which lead forward are called fore-and-aft stays; those which lead to the vessel's side are called backstays. 2. (v. i.) To stop from motion or falling; to prop; to fix firmly; to hold up; to support. 3. (v. i.) To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time. 4. (v. i.) To bear up under; to endure; to support; to resist successfully. 5. (v. i.) To hold from proceeding; to withhold; to restrain; to stop; to hold. 6. (v. i.) To hinder/; to delay; to detain; to keep back. 7. (v. i.) To remain for the purpose of; to wait for. 8. (v. i.) To cause to cease; to put an end to. 9. (v. i.) To fasten or secure with stays; as, to stay a flat sheet in a steam boiler. 10. (v. i.) To tack, as a vessel, so that the other side of the vessel shall be presented to the wind. 11. (v. i.) To remain; to continue in a place; to abide fixed for a space of time; to stop; to stand still. 12. (v. i.) To continue in a state. 13. (v. i.) To wait; to attend; to forbear to act. 14. (v. i.) To dwell; to tarry; to linger. 15. (v. i.) To rest; to depend; to rely; to stand; to insist. 16. (v. i.) To come to an end; to cease; as, that day the storm stayed. 17. (v. i.) To hold out in a race or other contest; as, a horse stays well. 18. (v. i.) To change tack; as a ship. 19. (n.) That which serves as a prop; a support. 20. (n.) A corset stiffened with whalebone or other material, worn by women, and rarely by men. 21. (n.) Continuance in a place; abode for a space of time; sojourn; as, you make a short stay in this city. 22. (n.) Cessation of motion or progression; stand; stop. 23. (n.) Hindrance; let; check. 24. (n.) Restraint of passion; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety. 25. (n.) Strictly, a part in tension to hold the parts together, or stiffen them. Thesaurus Entries abandon, abeyance, abide, abort, adhere, adjourn, advocate, afford support, afterthought, agglomerate, alpenstock, amnesty, anchor, arm, arrest, arrestation, athletic supporter, await, back, back up, backbone, backing, backpedal, backwater, bandeau, bar, be still, bear, bear up, bearer, bearing rein, belay, bell, berth, bide, bide the issue, billet at, bind, bit, bivouac, block, block up, blockade, blockage, bolster, bolster up, bottom, bra, brace, bracer, bracket, brake, brassiere, break, breath, breather, breathing place, breathing space, breathing spell, breathing time, bring to, bring up short, bunch, bung, bunk, buoy up, bureaucratic delay, burrow, buttress, cable, caesura, camp, cancel, cane, carrier, carry, carry on, caulk, cease, cease not, cease-fire, cervix, chain, check, checkmate, checkrein, chink, chock, choke, choke off, choke up, cigarette break, clasp, cleave, clinch, cling, cling to, clip the wings, clog, clog up, clot, cluster, coagulate, coast, cocktail hour, coffee break, cohabit, cohere, colonize, column, come to anchor, confine, congeal, congest, conglomerate, constipate, continue, continue to be, cork, corselet, corset, countercheck, cover, cradle, crook, crutch, curb, curb bit, cushion, cut it out, cut short, cutoff, dally, dam, dam up, damper, dawdle, day off, dead stop, deadlock, debarment, decelerate, defeat time, defer, deferment, deferral, defy time, delay, delayage, delayed reaction, desist, detain, detention, deter, determent, deterrence, dillydally, discontinuance, discontinuation, discontinue, discourage, discouragement, domesticate, domicile, domiciliate, doorstop, doss down, double take, downtime, drag, drag on, drag out, drag sail, dragging, draw rein, drift anchor, drift sail, drogue, drop, drop anchor, drop it, dwell, ease off, ease up, embrace, end, endgame, ending, endure, enforced respite, ensconce, establish, establish residence, estoppel, exemption, exist, extend, fetter, fill, fill up, final whistle, foil, forbiddance, foreclosure, forestalling, forestay, foul, found, foundation garment, freeze, freeze to, fulcrum, full stop, gird, girdle, give over, give support, go along, go on, grasp, grinding halt, ground, grow together, gun, guy, guywire, halt, hamper, hang, hang about, hang around, hang fire, hang on, hang out, hang together, hang up, hang-up, happy hour, have done with, hesitation, hinder, hindrance, hive, hold, hold back, hold everything, hold in check, hold off, hold on, hold out, hold over, hold steady, hold together, hold up |