Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

stable

 [stey-buhl]   Origin

sta·ble

1   [stey-buhl] noun, verb, -bled, -bling.
noun
1.
a building for the lodging and feeding of horses, cattle, etc.
2.
such a building with stalls.
3.
a collection of animals housed in such a building.
4.
Horse Racing.
a.
an establishment where racehorses are kept and trained.
b.
the horses belonging to, or the persons connected with, such an establishment.
5.
Informal.
a.
a number of people, usually in the same profession, who are employed, trained, or represented by the same company, agency, manager, etc.: a comedy show with a large stable of writers.
b.
the establishment that trains or manages such a group of people: two boxers from the same stable.
c.
a collection of items produced by or belonging to an establishment, industry, profession, or the like: The American auto industry has some new small cars in its stable.
verb (used with object)
6.
to put or lodge in or as if in a stable.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Stable is one of our favorite verbs.
So is bowdlerise. Does it mean:
to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.
to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
verb (used without object)
7.
to live in or as if in a stable.
Origin:
1200–50; Middle English stable < Old French estable < Latin stabulum standing room, equivalent to sta-, stem of stāre to stand + -bulum noun suffix denoting place

Related forms
sta·ble·like, adjective
un·sta·bled, adjective

Synonyms
1. barn, mews.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

sta·ble

2   [stey-buhl]
adjective, -bler, -blest.
1.
not likely to fall or give way, as a structure, support, foundation, etc.; firm; steady.
2.
able or likely to continue or last; firmly established; enduring or permanent: a stable government.
3.
resistant to sudden change or deterioration: A stable economy is the aim of every government.
4.
steadfast; not wavering or changeable, as in character or purpose; dependable.
5.
not subject to emotional instability or illness; sane; mentally sound.
EXPAND
6.
Physics. having the ability to react to a disturbing force by maintaining or reestablishing position, form, etc.
7.
Chemistry. not readily decomposing, as a compound; resisting molecular or chemical change.
8.
(of a patient's condition) exhibiting no significant change.
COLLAPSE
Origin:
1225–75; Middle English < Old French estable < Latin stabilis stabile

Related forms
sta·ble·ness, noun
sta·bly, adverb

Synonyms
1. fixed, strong, sturdy. 4. invariable, unvarying, staunch, constant, reliable, steady, solid.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To stable
Collins
World English Dictionary
stable1 (ˈsteɪbəl)
 
—n
1.  a building, usually consisting of stalls, for the lodging of horses or other livestock
2.  the animals lodged in such a building, collectively
3.  a.  the racehorses belonging to a particular establishment or owner
 b.  the establishment itself
 c.  (as modifier): stable companion
4.  informal a source of training, such as a school, theatre, etc: the two athletes were out of the same stable
5.  a number of people considered as a source of a particular talent: a stable of writers
6.  (modifier) of, relating to, or suitable for a stable: stable manners
 
—vb
7.  to put, keep, or be kept in a stable
 
[C13: from Old French estable cowshed, from Latin stabulum shed, from stāre to stand]

stable2 (ˈsteɪbəl)
 
—adj
1.  steady in position or balance; firm
2.  lasting or permanent: a stable relationship
3.  steadfast or firm of purpose
4.  (of an elementary particle, atomic nucleus, etc) not undergoing decay; not radioactive: a stable nuclide
5.  (of a chemical compound) not readily partaking in a chemical change
6.  (of electronic equipment) with no tendency to self-oscillation
 
[C13: from Old French estable, from Latin stabilis steady, from stāre to stand]
 
'stableness2
 
—n
 
'stably2
 
—adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

stable
"building where horses or cows are kept," mid-13c., "building for domestic animals," from O.Fr. estable "a stable, stall" (also applied to cowsheds and pigsties), from L. stabulum "a stall, fold, aviary, etc." lit. "a standing place," from stem of stare "to stand" (see
EXPAND
stet). Meaning "collection of horses belonging to one stable is attested from 1570s; transferred sense of "group of fighters under same management" is from 1897; that of "group of prostitutes working for the same employer" is from 1937.
"For what the grete Stiede
Is stole, thanne he taketh hiede,
And makth the stable dore fast."
[John Gower, "Confessio Amantis," 1390]

stable
"steadfast, firm," c.1275, from O.Fr. estable, from L. stabilis "firm, steadfast," lit. "able to stand," from stem of stare "to stand" (see stet). Physical sense of "secure against falling" is recorded from c.1300. Of nuclear isotopes, from 1904.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

stable sta·ble (stā'bəl)
adj. sta·bler, sta·blest

  1. Resistant to change of position or condition.

  2. Not subject to mental illness or irrationality.

  3. Having no known mode of decay; indefinitely long-lived. Used of atomic particles.

  4. Not easily decomposed or otherwise modified chemically.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
stable   (stā'bəl)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. Not susceptible to a process of decay, such as radioactivity. For example, the most common isotope of carbon, carbon 12, is stable. Protons and photons are examples of stable subatomic particles. See more at decay.

  2. Relating to a chemical compound that does not easily decompose or change into other compounds. Water is an example of a stable compound.

  3. Relating to an atom or chemical element that is unlikely to share electrons with another atom or element.

  4. Not likely to change significantly or to deteriorate suddenly, as an individual's Medical condition.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

stable

see lock the barn (stable) door after the horse has bolted.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT