sturdystur‧dy /ˈstɜːdi $ ˈstɜːr-/ ●○○ adjective (comparative sturdier, superlative sturdiest) 
Word Origin
That chair doesn’t look very sturdy. sturdy comfortable shoes► see thesaurus at strong2someone who is sturdy is strong, short, and healthy looking → stocky: a sturdy young man sturdy legs3determined and not easily persuaded to change your opinions: They kept up a sturdy opposition to the plan.—sturdily adverb—sturdiness noun [uncountable]
Word OriginWORD ORIGINsturdy
ExamplesOrigin:
1200-1300 Old French estourdi ‘stupidly brave, stunned’, from estourdir ‘to stun’, from Vulgar Latin exturdire ‘to behave like a thrush that has got drunk from eating grapes’, from Latin turdus ‘thrush’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- sturdy walking shoes
- a sturdy jaw
- a table that was old and sturdy
- Maria was small and sturdy, with dark hair and dark eyes.
- Mrs Harding herself was thin and frail but her son was a sturdy sixteen-year- old.
- She was a large, sturdy woman in her mid-fifties.
- The ponies used underground were sturdy little animals that came originally from Northern Spain.
- Before that time, alcohol had been in general use to deaden pain, though some sturdy souls rejected it on principle.
- Hanging about a foot from attached wall mounts, these sturdy steel bells would grace any garden.
- He was short and sturdy and when he was on a horse he seemed a part of it.
- However, the development and deployment of a sturdy handpump has been at the center of many of these projects.
- Somewhere the sturdy beggars nursed their wounds and cursed.
- The digital makeup of the sensor means it is sturdy and fast, yet simple and cheap to produce.
- We have seen shallow, shortlived economic recoveries, sturdy, eight-year booms, temporary slowdowns, and deep depressions.
THESAURUSnot easily broken or damaged► strong
Collocations not easily broken or damaged: · The bags are made of strong black plastic.· We need a strong rope for this job.
► tough strong – used especially about something that can be used a lot without damaging it or making it weaker: · a pair of tough leather boots· Kitchen floors need to be tough enough to withstand heavy use.
► heavy-duty [only before noun] extremely strong – used about materials, tools, machines etc that are made especially to be used a lot without being easily damaged: · heavy-duty rubber gloves· a heavy-duty carpet for the hallway
► sturdy strong and often thick, and not likely to fall over or get broken: · a fence made with sturdy wooden posts· The furniture is simple but sturdy.
► unbreakable extremely strong and impossible to break: · Babies need to have unbreakable dishes and cups.
► indestructible impossible to break, damage, or destroy, and lasting forever: · Gold is virtually indestructible.· The pyramids were built as indestructible tombs for the Pharaohs.
► hard-wearing British English, long-wearing American English used about materials and products that will remain in good condition for a long time even when they are used a lot: · Ceramic tiles are easy to keep clean and hard-wearing.· a hard-wearing fabric
► durable especially written used about materials and products that will remain in good condition for a long time – often used on product labels: · The jacket has a durable nylon lining.· Varnish is more durable than paint.
► robust especially written strongly made – used especially about the structure of something, for example a vehicle or machine: · a mountain bike with a robust frame· The hardware for the computer must be robust and inexpensive.
Longman Language Activatorstrong and healthy, and able to deal with illnesses, difficult conditions etc► strong · She had three young daughters, all strong and healthy.· After a week in bed I felt strong enough to try walking a few steps.have a strong constitution (=have a naturally strong and healthy body) · Despite his strong constitution, his health was beginning to suffer.
► sturdy strong and healthy-looking, and a little short: · Maria was small and sturdy, with dark hair and dark eyes.· Mrs Harding herself was thin and frail but her son was a sturdy sixteen-year- old.· The ponies used underground were sturdy little animals that came originally from Northern Spain.
► robust someone who is robust , is strong and healthy and unlikely to become ill or get tired easily: · Though he was over seventy, he was still robust and active.· Less robust persons might need a siesta, but Eva worked right through from dawn till dusk.
► hardy people who are hardy are naturally strong and healthy and can live in very difficult or uncomfortable conditions: · The people who lived in the hills were a hardy and hard-working race.· Charolais cattle do not like rain or too much cold. They are not hardy animals.
► tough physically and mentally strong, so that you can live through very difficult conditions: · When Aunt Agnes caught cholera out in India, we all expected her to die -- but she's a tough old lady and she pulled through.· I know she's only a kid, but she's tough.
► resilient someone who is resilient , especially a young person, is strong and healthy, so that they are only affected for a short time by illness, difficulties, or sudden changes in their lives: · Amy will soon be out of hospital -- children of her age are very resilient.· Being twenty-three years old and quite resilient, I got over the shock pretty quickly.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► sturdy build
1an object that is sturdy is strong, well-made, and not easily broken → solid: (=not very tall but strong and healthy)· an eight-year-old boy of sturdy build
That chair doesn’t look very sturdy. sturdy comfortable shoes► see thesaurus at strong2someone who is sturdy is strong, short, and healthy looking → stocky: a sturdy young man sturdy legs3determined and not easily persuaded to change your opinions: They kept up a sturdy opposition to the plan.—sturdily adverb—sturdiness noun [uncountable]