/ steə(r); NAmE ster/ verb , noun
■ verb
[ v ] stare (at sb/sth) to look at sb/sth for a long time :
I screamed and everyone stared.
I stared blankly at the paper in front of me.
He sat staring into space (= looking at nothing) .
She looked at them with dark staring eyes.
•
IDIOMS
- be staring sb in the face
- be staring sth in the face
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- stare sb out
■ noun
an act of looking at sb/sth for a long time, especially in a way that is unfriendly or that shows surprise :
She gave him a blank stare.
➡ note at look
••
SYNONYMS
stare
gaze ♦ peer ♦ glare
These words all mean to look at sb/sth for a long time.
stare
to look at sb/sth for a long time, especially with surprise or fear, or because you are thinking:
I screamed and everyone stared.
gaze
( rather formal ) to look steadily at sb/sth for a long time, especially with surprise or love, or because you are thinking:
We all gazed at Marco in amazement.
peer
to look closely or carefully at sth, especially when you cannot see it clearly
glare
to look angrily at sb/sth for a long time:
I looked at her and she glared stonily back.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to stare / gaze / peer / glare at sb/sth
to stare / gaze / peer / glare hard / intently / suspiciously
to stare / gaze / peer anxiously / nervously
to stare / gaze / glare fiercely / stonily
to stare / gaze wide-eyed / open-mouthed
to stare / gaze into space
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English starian , of Germanic origin, from a base meaning be rigid.