I. ˈstärk, ˈstȧk adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, stiff, strong, from Old English stearc; akin to Old High German starc strong, gi storchanēn to coagulate, Old Norse sterkr strong, storkna to coagulate, Gothic ga staurknan to become stiff, Lithuanian strėgti to freeze, Old English starian to stare — more at stare
1.
a. : strongly constructed : sturdy , stout
b. : possessing physical strength : robust , vigorous
c. chiefly Scotland , of liquor : strong , intoxicating
2.
a. : lacking in flexibility or suppleness : rigid in or as if in death
still unburied, lay along the wall, stiff and stark — R.L.Stevenson
stark with unbearable wet cold — Helen Rich
b. : conforming completely to pattern, precept, or doctrine : firm , unbending , strict
military strength, based of necessity on stark discipline — H.J.Mackinder
had a faith in law that was too stark and literal — Irving Babbitt
3. : pure , sheer , utter
stark brutality unredeemed by their tigerish grace — Miriam Allott
stark denial was his plain course — Arthur Morrison
stark nonsense
4. : violently stormy or windy : extremely inclement
5.
a.
[by shortening]
: stark-naked
boys stark except for breechclouts — Hervey Allen
b. : bleak , barren , desolate
the terrain has been rendered even more stark by deforestation and consequent erosion — American Guide Series: Minnesota
c.
(1) : having few or no ornaments, attachments, or appurtenances : appearing stripped : bare , empty
rooms that were as stark as the rooms of the white cottage had been crowded — D.B.Doner
winter white offset by stark branches — Constance Foster
(2) : consisting of or presenting a simple, harsh, or blunt unadorned style or treatment
critics and readers alike have commented on the stark realism … of the torture scenes — Lionel Trilling
a stark description of a very graceful movement — Warwick Braithwaite
6.
a. : furnishing or being furnished with an appearance of marked contrast from visual surroundings through outline, color, or texture
crags in stark outline against the sky
b. : sharply delineated : glaringly obvious
there is one stark antithesis which embraces … science, politics and philosophy — Hugh Ross Williamson
the stark facts of power politics — John Mason Brown
Synonyms: see stiff
II. adverb
1. : starkly
2. : wholly , absolutely , quite
stark mad
rich men who were once stark poor — Myron Brinig
eyes shut and mouth stark open — Douglas Newton
III. ˈshtärk adverb (or adjective)
Etymology: German, literally, strong, from Old High German starc
: loudly , forte — used as a direction in music