Definitions for stays

• Definition
• Anagrams (34)

stays stay

Spelling: [stey]

IPA: /steɪ/

Stays is a 5 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 8 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 7 points.

You can make 34 anagrams from letters in stays (assty).

Definitions for stays

noun

1. the act of stopping or being stopped.
2. a stop, halt, or pause; a standstill.
3. a sojourn or temporary residence:
4. Law. a stoppage or arrest of action; suspension of a judicial proceeding:
5. Informal. staying power; endurance.
6. something used to support or steady a thing; prop; brace.
7. a flat strip of steel, plastic, etc., used especially for stiffening corsets, collars, etc.
8. a long rod running between opposite walls, heads or sides of a furnace, boiler, tank, or the like, to strengthen them against internal pressures.
9. stays, Chiefly British. a corset.
10. any of various strong ropes or wires for steadying masts, funnels, etc.

Idioms

1. stay the course, to persevere; endure to completion.
2. in stays, (of a fore-and-aft-rigged vessel) heading into the wind with sails shaking, as in coming about.

verb (used with object)

1. to stop or halt.
2. to hold back, detain, or restrain, as from going further.
3. to suspend or delay (actions, proceedings, etc.).
4. to appease or satisfy temporarily the cravings of (the stomach, appetite, etc.).
5. to remain through or during (a period of time):
6. to remain to the end of; remain beyond (usually followed by out).
7. Archaic. to await.
8. to support, prop, or hold up (sometimes followed by up).
9. to sustain or strengthen mentally or spiritually.
10. to rest on (something, as a foundation or base) for support.
11. to cause something to become fixed or to rest on (a support, foundation, base, etc.)
12. to support or secure with a stay or stays:
13. to put (a ship) on the other tack.

verb (used without object)

1. to spend some time in a place, in a situation, with a person or group, etc.:
2. to continue to be as specified, as to condition or state:
3. to hold out or endure, as in a contest or task (followed by with or at):
4. to keep up, as with a competitor (followed by with).
5. Poker. to continue in a hand by matching an ante, bet, or raise.
6. to stop or halt.
7. to pause or wait, as for a moment, before proceeding or continuing; linger or tarry.
8. Archaic. to cease or desist.
9. Archaic. to stand firm.
10. (of a ship) to change to the other tack.

Origin of stays

1400-50; late Middle English staien Anglo-French estaier, Old French estai-, stem of ester Latin stāre to stand

Examples for stays

But he loses his backpack in the process and it stays with the cops as he flees down the walkway toward Brooklyn.

There is something about a clown that stays with people: the bright colors, their tendency to be demonstrative.

This is exactly the kind of legal chaos that stays are meant to avoid.

Her sister's well married, an' Isabel stays every night with her.

Yes, such she was—fifteen years old, full of figure and no stays.

We always think the sun drops down away from us, but it stays still.

The presidential hopefuls fire up the faithful with promises to extend the Republican revolution to 2016, as Jeb Bush stays mum.

He stays home one more day and then comes in and seems fine.

But the frigate which had her in tow hove in stays, and got her round.

"Helena stays with me to-night—my compliments," said Lady Delacour.