continuing or remaining in a place or state; they had a nice stay in Paris; a lengthy hospital stay; a four-month stay in bankruptcy court'
the state of inactivity following an interruption; the negotiations were in arrest; held them in check; during the halt he got some lunch; the momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow; he spent the entire stop in his seat
a judicial order forbidding some action until an event occurs or the order is lifted; the Supreme Court has the power to stay an injunction pending an appeal to the whole Court'
a thin strip of metal or bone that is used to stiffen a garment (e.g. a corset)
(nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar
stay (n.)
stay the same; remain in a certain state; The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it; rest assured; stay alone; He remained unmoved by her tears; The bad weather continued for another week
fasten with stays
overcome or allay; quell my hunger
stay put (in a certain place); We are staying in Detroit; we are not moving to Cincinnati; Stay put in the corner here!; Stick around and you will learn something!
[ Syn: stick , stick around , stay put ]
dwell; You can stay with me while you are in town; stay a bit longer--the day is still young
continue in a place, position, or situation; After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser; Stay with me, please; despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year; She continued as deputy mayor for another year
remain behind; I had to stay at home and watch the children'
stop or halt; Please stay the bloodshed!
stay behind; The smell stayed in the room; The hostility remained long after they made up
hang on during a trial of endurance; ride out the storm
stop a judicial process; The judge stayed the execution order'