staring definition |Dictionary.com

stare

3 dictionary results for: staring

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

stare

[stair] Pronunciation Key, verb, stared, star·ing, noun

–verb (used without object)

1.	to gaze fixedly and intently, esp. with the eyes wide open.

2.	to be boldly or obtrusively conspicuous: The bright modern painting stares out at you in the otherwise conservative gallery.

3.	(of hair, feathers, etc.) to stand on end; bristle.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to stare at: to stare a person up and down.

5.	to effect or have a certain effect on by staring: to stare one out of countenance.

–noun

6.	a staring gaze; a fixed look with the eyes wide open: The banker greeted him with a glassy stare.

—Verb phrase

7.	stare down, to cause to become uncomfortable by gazing steadily at one; overcome by staring: A nonsmoker at the next table tried to stare me down.

—Idiom

8.	stare one in the face, to be urgent or impending; confront: The income-tax deadline is staring us in the face.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME staren, OE starian; c. D staren, G starren, ON stara; akin to stark, starve

]

—Related forms

starer, noun

star·ing·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. See gaze.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

stare   (stâr) Pronunciation Key
v.   stared, star·ing, stares

v.   intr.

To look directly and fixedly, often with a wide-eyed gaze. See Synonyms at gaze.
To be conspicuous; stand out.
To stand on end; bristle, as hair or feathers.

v. tr.
To look at directly and fixedly: stared him in the eyes.

n. An intent gaze.

Phrasal Verb(s):
stare down
To cause to waver or give in by or as if by staring.

Idiom(s):
stare (one) in the face

To be plainly visible or obvious; force itself on (one's) attention: The money on the table was staring her in the face.
To be obvious though initially overlooked: The explanation had been staring him in the face all along.
To be imminent or unavoidable: Bankruptcy now stares us in the face.

[Middle English staren, from Old English starian; see ster-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

star'er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

staring
adjective
1.	(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder; "staring eyes" [syn: agaze]
2.	without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers; "an arrant fool"; "a complete coward"; "a consummate fool"; "a double-dyed villain"; "gross negligence"; "a perfect idiot"; "pure folly"; "what a sodding mess"; "stark staring mad"; "a thoroughgoing villain"; "utter nonsense"; "the unadulterated truth"

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