stave
1 of 2noun
ˈstāv 
1
: any of the narrow strips of wood or narrow iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel (such as a barrel) or structure
2
: staff entry 1 sense 1
3
: staff entry 1 sense 3
4
: stanza sense 1
stave
2 of 2verb
staved or stove ˈstōv ; staving
; staving transitive verb
1
: to smash a hole in
stove in the boat
also : to crush or break inward
staved in several ribs
2
: to break in the staves of (a cask)
3
: to drive or thrust away
intransitive verb
1
: to walk or move rapidly
2
archaic : to become stove in —used of a boat or ship
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 21 July 2022 Where half a century in wood will leave most whiskies tasting like a brittle oak stave, a few lucky casks manage to avoid that fate. Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2019 Just seven more days with that stave created a stronger cinnamon tone with a toasty feel to it. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 7 Mar. 2022 Bill was able to narrow down the barrel program to two cooperages in Missouri and Pennsylvania with the Pennsylvania barrels being a mix of four-year, water-bent and thin-stave. Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 4 July 2021 Instead, anchor the stave in the ground over bare soil or rocks. T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2017 Leave enough room on the end of each stave to cut off roughly 6 inches, where the wood might have cracks. Andrew Del-colle, Popular Mechanics, 16 Aug. 2020 With a hatchet or a knife and baton, split the thicker end of the branch with two perpendicular lengthwise cuts down the stave about 10 inches. T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2017 Choose a bow stave that is relatively straight and generally free of knots, side branches, and twists, roughly 2 inches in diameter. Tim Macwelch, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2020 Wired, 19 July 2022 To stave himself from loneliness, one day Gittins builds Charles, and so begins an utterly charming, if slightly odd, father-son like bond. Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 June 2022 To help stave some of those losses, Netflix has begun experimenting in new areas of business, like advertising and video games — the former of which Hastings was once staunchly opposed to. J. Clara Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 May 2022 Hogan on Monday announced the new rate and challenged his former political ally Comptroller Peter Franchot, a leading Democratic contender to succeed him, to find a way to stave it off. Erin Cox, Washington Post, 26 May 2022 Facing a steady encroachment of corporate buyers, some neighborhoods are fighting to stave them off. New York Times, 23 Apr. 2022 Their latest line taps into the popular DIY apple cider vinegar trend for scalp care, adding the ingredient to a rinse, shampoo, and 2-in-1 conditioner to stave away itch and excess oil. Patrice Grell Yursik, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2021 His masthead-mate, George Packer, followed up with a piece that urged readers to imagine democracy’s unthinkable demise in order to stave it off. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 11 Dec. 2021 And now to areas trying to stave a Taliban offensive that has taken dozens of districts in recent days in the country’s north. New York Times, 25 June 2021 See More
Noun
The latest in Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Discovery Series combines whiskey from four different states and Canada before undergoing a complicated wood stave finish, resulting in something unique and delicious. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 21 July 2022 Where half a century in wood will leave most whiskies tasting like a brittle oak stave, a few lucky casks manage to avoid that fate. Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2019 Just seven more days with that stave created a stronger cinnamon tone with a toasty feel to it. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 7 Mar. 2022 Bill was able to narrow down the barrel program to two cooperages in Missouri and Pennsylvania with the Pennsylvania barrels being a mix of four-year, water-bent and thin-stave. Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 4 July 2021 Instead, anchor the stave in the ground over bare soil or rocks. T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2017 Leave enough room on the end of each stave to cut off roughly 6 inches, where the wood might have cracks. Andrew Del-colle, Popular Mechanics, 16 Aug. 2020 With a hatchet or a knife and baton, split the thicker end of the branch with two perpendicular lengthwise cuts down the stave about 10 inches. T. Edward Nickens, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2017 Choose a bow stave that is relatively straight and generally free of knots, side branches, and twists, roughly 2 inches in diameter. Tim Macwelch, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2020 Verb
This new data suggests, at least, some biological potential to stave it off for a very long time—if the conditions are right. Wired, 19 July 2022 To stave himself from loneliness, one day Gittins builds Charles, and so begins an utterly charming, if slightly odd, father-son like bond. Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 June 2022 To help stave some of those losses, Netflix has begun experimenting in new areas of business, like advertising and video games — the former of which Hastings was once staunchly opposed to. J. Clara Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 May 2022 Hogan on Monday announced the new rate and challenged his former political ally Comptroller Peter Franchot, a leading Democratic contender to succeed him, to find a way to stave it off. Erin Cox, Washington Post, 26 May 2022 Facing a steady encroachment of corporate buyers, some neighborhoods are fighting to stave them off. New York Times, 23 Apr. 2022 Their latest line taps into the popular DIY apple cider vinegar trend for scalp care, adding the ingredient to a rinse, shampoo, and 2-in-1 conditioner to stave away itch and excess oil. Patrice Grell Yursik, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2021 His masthead-mate, George Packer, followed up with a piece that urged readers to imagine democracy’s unthinkable demise in order to stave it off. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 11 Dec. 2021 And now to areas trying to stave a Taliban offensive that has taken dozens of districts in recent days in the country’s north. New York Times, 25 June 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, back-formation from staves, plural of staf staff
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Verb
circa 1595, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Phrases Containing stave
Kids Definition
stave 1 of 2
noun
ˈstāv
1
: one of the narrow strips of wood or iron plates that form the sides, covering, or lining of something (as a barrel)
2
: a wooden stick : staff
stave
2 of 2verb
staved or stove
ˈstōv
; staving 1
: to break in the staves of
stave a barrel
2
: to smash a hole in
Waves staved the boat's hull.
stave
noun
1
as in brace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- brace
- beam
- wood
- lumber
- stick
- stake
- sill
- pile
- timber
- ridgepole
- splint
- post
- block
- bar
- firewood
- billet
- cordwood
2
as in birch
Synonyms & Similar Words
- birch
- hickory
- hammer
- switch
- maul
- rattan
- mallet
- mace
- bludgeon
- cane
- sledgehammer
- cudgel
- knobkerrie
- crabstick
- baton
- rung
- beetle
- bat
- rod
- gavel
- truncheon
- blackjack
- shillelagh
- waddy
- bastinado
- billy
- staff
- crosier
- nightstick
- billy club
- crook
- crozier
- bastinade
- sap
- club
- walking stick
- shillalah
- whangee
- technical felony
- technical foul
- technical knockout
- technical point
- technical sergeant
- technical support
- technical traverse
- technical/tech support
- technicalisation
- technicalise
- technicalises
- technicalism
- technicalist
- technicalities
- technicality
- technicalization
- technicalizations
- technicalize
- technicalized
- technicalizes
- technicalizing
- technically
- technicalness
- technicalnesses
- technicals