noun
stave
stayv
Stave (noun) means one of the curved wooden strips fitted together to form the side of a barrel or cask. Example: “The cooper replaced a cracked stave in the old wine barrel.”
noun
1
One of the curved wooden strips fitted together to form the side of a barrel or cask.
"The cooper replaced a cracked stave in the old wine barrel."
2
A stanza of a poem or song; also the set of five lines music is written on.
"He sang the final stave of the ballad from memory."
verb
1
To break a hole in something, especially a barrel or boat hull ("stave in").
"The rocks staved in the side of the small dinghy."
2
To keep something away or delay it, especially in the phrase "stave off."
"Drinking water regularly can help stave off dehydration on a hike."
"The loan staved off bankruptcy for another year."
How to use stave
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often seen today in the phrase "stave off" — to hold something unwanted at bay for a while.
Common pairings
stave off hunger
stave off disaster
stave in the hull
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Word forms
- Plural
- staves
- Third person singular
- staves
- Past tense
- staved, stove, stoven
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cooper replaced a cracked _____ in the old wine barrel.
Etymology
A back-formation from "staves," the old plural of "staff."
Related words
Rhymes for stave
See all rhymes for stave →Frequently asked questions
What does “stave” mean?
The word “stave” means one of the curved wooden strips fitted together to form the side of a barrel or cask. In plain terms, most often seen today in the phrase "stave off" — to hold something unwanted at bay for a while.
How do you pronounce “stave”?
“Stave” is pronounced stayv (/steɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “stave” in a sentence?
Here is “stave” used in a sentence: “The cooper replaced a cracked stave in the old wine barrel.”
What part of speech is “stave”?
Depending on how it is used, “stave” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “stave” have?
“Stave” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the curved wooden strips fitted together to form the side of a barrel or cask.
