STABLE


Meaning of STABLE in English

/ ˈsteɪbl; NAmE / adjective , noun , verb

■ adjective

1.

firmly fixed; not likely to move, change or fail

SYN steady :

stable prices

a stable relationship

This ladder doesn't seem very stable.

The patient's condition is stable (= it is not getting worse) .

2.

( of a person ) calm and reasonable; not easily upset

SYN balanced :

Mentally, she is not very stable.

3.

( technical ) ( of a substance ) staying in the same chemical or atomic state :

chemically stable

OPP unstable

►  sta·bly / ˈsteɪbli; NAmE / adverb

■ noun

1.

[ C ] a building in which horses are kept

2.

( BrE also stables ) [ C +sing./pl. v . ] an organization that keeps horses for a particular purpose :

( BrE )

a riding / racing stables

His stables are near Oxford.

3.

[ C ] a group of racehorses owned or trained by the same person :

There have been just three winners from his stable this season.

4.

[ sing. ] a group of people who work or trained in the same place; a group of products made by the same company :

actors from the same stable

the latest printer from the Epson stable

■ verb

[ vn ] to put or keep a horse in a stable :

Where do you stable your pony?

••

WORD FAMILY

stable adjective (≠ unstable )

stability noun (≠ instability )

stabilize verb

••

WORD ORIGIN

adjective Middle English : from Anglo-Norman French , from Latin stabilis , from the base of stare to stand.

noun and verb Middle English : shortening of Old French estable stable, pigsty, from Latin stabulum , from the base of stare to stand.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.