I. ˈstāshən noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English stacioun, from Middle French station, estation, from Latin station-, statio, from status (past participle of stare to stand) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at stand
1.
a. archaic : a state of standing still or being at rest : stillness
her motion and her station are as one — Shakespeare
b. archaic : stationary point
the planets in their stations list'ning stood — John Milton
c.
(1) : a stop or sojourn at one place : halt
having enjoyed my first station here … I again commenced my march — John Coulter
(2) : tour of duty
left after a short station there
2. : the place or position in which something or someone stands or is assigned to stand or remain: as
a. : a post of duty
a sentinel's station
waiters at their stations in the dining room
battle stations on a ship
b. : the spot at which an instrument is planted or observations are made in surveying
c.
(1) : one of the places on a machine tool where the work is subjected to a single operation
(2) : a position on a conveyor system where materials are loaded or discharged
d. : an enlargement in a mining shaft or gallery used as a landing or passing place or for the accommodation of equipment (as a pump or tank)
e.
(1) : a position of a ship in a formation or convoy
(2) : the assigned position of each airplane relative to that of the flight leader in formation flying
hold station on the leader
f.
(1) : one of the 10 or more divisions on a ship's lines between forward and after perpendicular at which calculations (as of displacement) are made in shipbuilding
(2) : one of the specified points along the keel or base line marking the places for the ship's frames
3.
a. : the act or manner of standing : posture
maintain a firm station
station was unsteady with the eyes open or closed — Diseases of the Nervous System
b. : the height and carriage of a gamecock
c. : any of the eight places from which a skeet shooter fires
4. : a stopping place: as
a.
(1) : a stopping place in a transportation route (as for taking on passengers or handling freight)
(2) : the building or buldings connected with such a stopping place : depot 3a, 3b
(3) : an Air Force depot without flying facilities
b. : a place where a missionary stops as regularly as possible to conduct religious services and minister to the needs of the people
c. : one of the stations of the cross
d. : a Christian service held at one of a number of churches on a stated day (as every day in Lent, the ember days, and solemn feasts)
e. Irish : a priest's stay with a parishioner to confess the neighbors
the night of a station , when the priest was praising the place she had — Padraic Fallon
5. : a sphere of life, duty, or occupation: as
a. : an army post
spent five years at his first station
b. : an area of residence (as formerly in India) for British military or civil officers in a district
c. : a place or region to which a government ship or fleet is assigned for duty
d. : a pioneer settlement : outpost
tribes were constantly interrupting stage service, attacking stations — G.R.Stewart
e. Australia : ranch
f. : mission station
g. : a single church of the Methodist denomination that is a pastor's sole charge as distinguished from a circuit of churches served by one clergyman
6.
a. : social standing : rank , position
married above his station
a woman of high station
the duties of the station in which we find ourselves — M.R.Cohen
b. : the ordinal position in which a number is drawn in lotteries and numbers games
7.
a. : a region or situation where a particular kind of plant or animal lives : the most characteristic portion of its range : habitat , biotope
b. : the exact spot at which a given species or specimen is found or collected
8.
a. : a place established and equipped for specialized observation and study of scientific phenomena
a geologic station
a seismological station
an agricultural experiment station
b. : an institution for studying living organisms in their natural surroundings
a marine biological station
c. : a place or location for ascertaining or tabulating tidal and current data
9. : a place established to provide a public service: as
a. : fire station
b. : police station
c. : a post office subsidiary to the headquarters post office of an area : a branch post office — see classified station , contract station
d.
(1) : a complete assemblage of radio or television equipment including antenna, transmitting or receiving set, and signal making or reproducing device
(2) : the place (as a room) in which a radio or television transmitting or receiving station is located
e. : a usually outdoor place where merchandise is sold : stand
10. : station day
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to assign to or set in a station or position : post
stations his troops on a hill
stationed himself at the only exit
stationed a lady usher to watch a certain drama critic — Gilbert Millstein