stable definition | Dictionary.com

sta⋅ble

1 [stey-buh

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.

Horse Racing.

a.	an establishment where racehorses are kept and trained.

b.	the horses belonging to, or the persons connected with, such an establishment.

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.

–verb (used without object)

7.	to live in or as if in a stable.

Origin:
1200–50; ME stable < OF estable < L stabulum standing room, equiv. to sta-, s. of stāre to stand + -bulum n. suffix denoting place

Related forms:

sta⋅ble⋅like, adjective

Synonyms:
1. barn, mews.

sta⋅ble

2 [stey-buh

–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.

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.

Origin:
1225–75; ME < OF estable < L stabilis stabile

Related forms:

sta⋅ble⋅ness, noun

stably, 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. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To stable

sta·ble¹ (stā'bəl)

adj. sta·bler, sta·blest

1. Resistant to change of position or condition; not easily moved or disturbed: a house built on stable ground; a stable platform.
2. Not subject to sudden or extreme change or fluctuation: a stable economy; a stable currency.
3. Maintaining equilibrium; self-restoring: a stable aircraft.
4. Consistently dependable; steadfast of purpose.
5. Not subject to mental illness or irrationality: a stable personality.
Enduring or permanent: a stable peace.
1. Consistently dependable; steadfast of purpose.
2. Not subject to mental illness or irrationality: a stable personality.
Physics Having no known mode of decay; indefinitely long-lived. Used of atomic particles.
Chemistry Not easily decomposed or otherwise modified chemically.

[Middle English, from Old French estable, from Latin stabilis; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
sta'ble·ness n., sta'bly adv.

sta·ble² (stā'bəl)

1. A building for the shelter and feeding of domestic animals, especially horses and cattle.
2. A group of animals lodged in such a building.
3. All the racehorses belonging to a single owner or racing establishment. See Synonyms at flock¹.
4. The personnel employed to keep and train such a group of racehorses.
1. All the racehorses belonging to a single owner or racing establishment. See Synonyms at flock¹.
2. The personnel employed to keep and train such a group of racehorses.
A group, as of athletes or entertainers, under common management: a stable of prizefighters.

v.   sta·bled, sta·bling, sta·bles

v.   tr.
To put or keep in or as if in a stable.
v.   intr.
To live in or as if in a stable.

[Middle English, from Old French estable, from Latin stabulum, stable, standing place; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Stable

Sta"ble\, a. (Physics) So placed as to resist forces tending to cause motion; of such structure as to resist distortion or molecular or chemical disturbance; -- said of any body or substance.

Stable

Sta"ble\, a. [OE. estable, F. stable, fr. L. stabilis, fr. stare to stand. See Stand, v. i. and cf. Establish.]

1. Firmly established; not easily moved, shaken, or overthrown; fixed; as, a stable government.

In this region of chance, . . . where nothing is stable. --Rogers.

2. Steady in purpose; constant; firm in resolution; not easily diverted from a purpose; not fickle or wavering; as, a man of stable character.

And to her husband ever meek and stable. --Chaucer.

3. Durable; not subject to overthrow or change; firm; as, a stable foundation; a stable position.

Stable equibrium (Mech.), the kind of equilibrium of a body so placed that if disturbed it returns to its former position, as in the case when the center of gravity is below the point or axis of support; -- opposed to unstable equilibrium, in which the body if disturbed does not tend to return to its former position, but to move farther away from it, as in the case of a body supported at a point below the center of gravity. Cf. Neutral equilibrium, under Neutral.

Syn: Fixed; steady; constant; abiding; strong; durable; firm.

Stable

Sta"ble\, v. t. To fix; to establish. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Stable

Sta"ble\, n. [OF. estable, F. ['e]table, from L. stabulum, fr. stare to stand. See Stand, v. i.] A house, shed, or building, for beasts to lodge and feed in; esp., a building or apartment with stalls, for horses; as, a horse stable; a cow stable. --Milton.

Stable fly (Zo["o]l.), a common dipterous fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) which is abundant about stables and often enters dwellings, especially in autumn. These files, unlike the common house files, which they resemble, bite severely, and are troublesome to horses and cattle.

Stable

Sta"ble\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stabled; p. pr. & vb. n. Stabling.] To put or keep in a stable.

Stable

Sta"ble\, v. i. To dwell or lodge in a stable; to dwell in an inclosed place; to kennel. --Milton.

Language Translation for : stable

Italian: stabilestabile,

German: stabil,

Japanese: ぐらつかない

More Translations »

stable (n.)

"building where horses or cows are kept," c.1250, "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 1576; transf. 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 (adj.)

"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.

Main Entry: sta·ble
Pronunciation: 'stA-b&l
Function: adjective
Inflected Forms: sta·bler /-b(&-)l&r/;sta·blest /-b(&-)l&st/
1 : not changing or fluctuating stable>
2 : notsubject to insecurity or emotional illness stable personality>
3 a : not readily altering in chemical makeup or physical state <stable emulsions> b : not spontaneously radioactive

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.

stable (stā'bəl) Pronunciation Key

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.
Relating to a chemical compound that does not easily decompose or change into other compounds. Water is an example of a stable compound.
Relating to an atom or chemical element that is unlikely to share electrons with another atom or element.
Not likely to change significantly or to deteriorate suddenly, as an individual's medical condition.

stable

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

Search another word or see stable on Thesaurus | Reference

Horse Boarding
San Diego area stables. Quality, affordable boarding, horse motel.
www.hollyslandstables.com

The Stable Company
Designers and manufacturers of high quality timber stables

thestablecompany.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us