stable
Use Stable in a sentence
bəl 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.
00:10
Stable
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
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
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.
1. barn, mews.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
adjective, sta·bler, sta·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.
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.
Related forms
sta·ble·ness, noun
sta·bly, adverb
Synonyms
1. fixed, strong, sturdy. 4. invariable, unvarying, staunch, constant, reliable, steady, solid.
1. fixed, strong, sturdy. 4. invariable, unvarying, staunch, constant, reliable, steady, solid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To stable
Collins
World English Dictionary
stable1 (ˈsteɪbəl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —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
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
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
stable sta·ble (stā'bəl)
adj. sta·bler, sta·blest
Resistant to change of position or condition.
Not subject to mental illness or irrationality.
Having no known mode of decay; indefinitely long-lived. Used of atomic particles.
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
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
|
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
If you get it fixed, printed on the page, then it becomes a stable thing that people can look at and think about for themselves.
It's a politically stable country with a sophisticated, mobile workforce.
Neutrons are stable inside stable atoms but decay with a half life of about eleven minutes outside the atom.
So my strategy was to play away from the program's abilities and to steer the game into slow-paced, stable, balanced positions.
Idioms & Phrases
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
