/ steɪ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
to continue to be in a particular place for a period of time without moving away :
[ v ]
to stay in bed
'Do you want a drink?' 'No, thanks, I can't stay.'
Stay there and don't move!
We ended up staying for lunch.
She stayed at home (= did not go out to work) while the children were young.
I'm staying late at the office tonight.
My hat won't stay on!
Can you stay behind after the others have gone and help me clear up?
We stayed to see what would happen.
[ v -ing ]
They stayed talking until well into the night.
HELP NOTE : In spoken English stay can be used with and plus another verb, instead of with to and the infinitive, to show purpose or to tell somebody what to do:
I'll stay and help you.
Can you stay and keep an eye on the baby?
2.
to continue to be in a particular state or situation
SYN remain :
[ v - adj ]
He never stays angry for long.
I can't stay awake any longer.
The store stays open until late on Thursdays.
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
I don't know why they stay together (= remain married or in a relationship) .
Inflation stayed below 4% last month.
[ v - n ]
We promised to stay friends for ever.
3.
[ v ] to live in a place temporarily as a guest or visitor :
We found out we were staying in the same hotel.
My sister's coming to stay next week.
He's staying with friends this weekend.
I stayed three nights at my cousin's house.
HELP NOTE : In Indian, Scottish and South African English stay can mean 'to live in a place permanently':
Where do you stay (= where do you live) ?
•
IDIOMS
- be here to stay | have come to stay
- stay!
- stay the course
- stay your hand
- stay the night
- stay put
—more at clear adverb , loose adjective
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- stay around
- stay away (from sb/sth)
- stay in
- stay on
- stay out
- stay out of sth
- stay over
- stay up
■ noun
1.
a period of staying; a visit :
I enjoyed my stay in Prague.
an overnight stay
2.
a rope or wire that supports a ship's mast , a pole, etc.
—see also mainstay
•
IDIOMS
- a stay of execution
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun sense 1 and verb late Middle English (as a verb): from Anglo-Norman French estai- , stem of Old French ester , from Latin stare to stand.
noun sense 2 Old English stæg , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stag , from a base meaning be firm.