stabilizev.
/ˈsteɪbɪlʌɪz/ 1. transitive. To give stability to (a ship). Also with other objs. and reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > render immobile [verb (transitive)] > stabilize
stablea1300
firmc1374
establish1664
securea1741
stabilize1861
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > shipbuilding and repairing > build a ship [verb (transitive)] > give stability to
stiffen1707
stabilize1861
1861 W. Froude Rolling of Ships (1862) 14 The ship, whether stabilised by breadth of beam or by deeply stowed ballast, would [etc.].
1916 H. Barber Aeroplane Speaks 71 If an aeroplane was not stabilized in this way.
1938 G. H. Richter Textbk. Org. Chem. xxix. 595 The majority of the reactions of naphthalene are..the formation of unstable 1,4 addition products..which then stabilize themselves by the elimination of two atoms.
1958 Times 30 Aug. 6/1 The rocket during the whole of its flight was stabilized, to prevent rotation.
1975 Petroleum Rev. 29 89/3 The raw crude oil will be stabilised and the natural gas liquids recovered.
2.
a. To give a stable character or value to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > make stable, establish [verb (transitive)]
fastenOE
grounda1300
confirmc1300
establec1386
settlec1386
establish1533
entrench?1587
fix1605
stabilitate1642
substantiate1792
stabilify1871
stabilize1875
freeze1936
1875 W. D. Whitney Life & Growth Lang. ix. 158 Such forces..fairly dominate the history of speech. The language is stabilized.
1907 Daily Chron. 7 Jan. 3/7 The Mexican dollar, which formerly varied in value from 35 cents to 50 cents, has been stabilised at 50 cents gold.
b. To establish a scale of (payments, prices, or the like).
ΚΠ
1918 Nation (N.Y.) Feb. 168/2 Group insurance..helps the employer to solve one of his great problems, that is stabilizing his help.
1922 World's Paper Trade Rev. 17 Mar. The proposals for stabilising wages in the printing trade.
3. intransitive. To become stable; esp. to cease varying in value.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > be stable [verb (intransitive)] > become stable
stable1399
stiffen1856
stabilize1961
1961 Webster's 3rd New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang.
1971 Timber Trades Jrnl. 21 Aug. 16/1 Lumber stabilises at approximately 15% moisture content under normal use conditions.
1974 State (Columbia, S. Carolina) 26 Apr. 19- a/2 The Nixon administration contends the economy will stabilize in the second quarter.
1981 Times 4 Feb. 16/7 He was obliged with his pilot to eject from a Javelin which had stabilized in an unrecoverable spin.
Derivatives
ˈstabilizing n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > [noun] > stabilization
stabilization1887
stabilizing1909
freeze1942
1909 Q. Rev. Oct. 533 The pernicious effects of the fluctuations of exchange demand the stabilising of the gold value of currency.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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