I. stave 1 /steɪv/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: staves ]
1 . the set of five lines on which music is written
2 . one of the thin curved pieces of wood fitted close together to form the sides of a ↑ barrel
II. stave 2 BrE AmE verb
stave something ↔ in phrasal verb ( past tense and past participle staved or stove /stəʊv $ stoʊv/)
to break something inwards:
The ship’s side was stove in when it went onto the rocks.
stave something ↔ off phrasal verb ( past tense and past participle staved )
to keep someone or something from reaching you or affecting you for a period of time:
She brought some fruit on the journey to stave off hunger.