stave

C2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /steɪv/ UK /steɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #37739

Meanings

1

noun
one of the narrow strips of wood or metal fitted edge to edge to form a barrel or similar structure

The cooper replaced a cracked stave before sealing the barrel.
2

verb
to drive or thrust something away; in the phrase stave off, to prevent or delay something unwanted

A strong pump may stave off flooding until the repair crew arrives.
3

verb
to smash a hole in something or crush part of it inward

The floating timber could stave in the side of a small boat.
4

noun
British: a set of five horizontal lines on which musical notes are written

The melody begins on the upper line of the stave.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · one of the narrow strips of... slat

2 verb · to drive or thrust... ward offavert delay

3 verb · to smash a hole in... break incrush smash

4 noun · british: a set of five... staff

Opposites

permit hasten

Word family

Forms barrel-stavebarrelstavesstaved

Derived forms stavelessstavewood

Related forms staff barrel stanza

Common collocations

stave off Verb + adverb

Etymology

From Middle English stave, a back-formation from staves, the old plural of staff. The noun developed specialized senses for wooden slats and a musical staff; the verbs preserve ideas of striking, breaking, or driving something away with a staff or stave.

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# stave

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /steɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /steɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 37739

## Meanings
1. one of the narrow strips of wood or metal fitted edge to edge to form a barrel or similar structure
2. to drive or thrust something away; in the phrase stave off, to prevent or delay something unwanted
3. to smash a hole in something or crush part of it inward
4. British: a set of five horizontal lines on which musical notes are written

## Examples
- The cooper replaced a cracked stave before sealing the barrel.
- A strong pump may stave off flooding until the repair crew arrives.
- The floating timber could stave in the side of a small boat.
- The melody begins on the upper line of the stave.

## Synonyms
- slat
- staff
- ward off
- avert

## Antonyms
- permit
- hasten

## Derived Forms
- staveless
- stavewood

## Related Forms
- staff
- barrel
- stanza

## Etymology
From Middle English stave, a back-formation from staves, the old plural of staff. The noun developed specialized senses for wooden slats and a musical staff; the verbs preserve ideas of striking, breaking, or driving something away with a staff or stave.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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