STAVE


Meaning of STAVE in English

I. ˈstāv noun

( -s )

Etymology: back-formation from staves, plural of staff (I)

1. : a wooden stick : cudgel , staff

2.

a. : any of the narrow strips of wood or narrow iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel or structure — see barrel illustration

b. : a piece shaped like a stave: as

(1) : a bearing strip for an arch centering

(2) : a slat of a hayrack

3.

a. : any of the bars of a lantern pinion

b. : a bar or round of a rack or ladder

4.

a. : a set of verses (as a stanza)

forms that deviate from the common epic measure, such as the Northern lyrical staves — W.P.Ker

b. : a letter of an alphabet

5.

a. : a staff in music notation

b. : a bar or brief passage of music

the quick, eager stave of the chaffinch — Scotsman

6. : bowstave

7. : the stem of an acanthus leaf in classic architectural ornament

II. verb

( staved -vd ; or stove -tōv ; staved or stove ; staving ; staves )

transitive verb

1.

a. : to break in the staves of (a cask) so that the wine or liquor is lost

b. : to lose or destroy (wine or liquor) by smashing the cask

2.

a. : to cause a break in (a boat's hull) : smash (a hole) in a boat — often used with in

whose deckhouse had been stove in by the tremendous seas — Homer Bigart

b. : to crush in : break inward

staved in several ribs

3. : to furnish with or form into staves

4. : to thrust with great force

intransitive verb

1.

a. : to come apart (as a cask or barrel) : break up

b. : to become stove in — used of a boat or ship

2. : to walk or move rapidly : hurry , rush

- stave and tail

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.