I. ˈstəd noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English stod, from Old English stōd; akin to Old High German stuot stud, Old Norse stōth stud, Old English standan to stand — more at stand
1.
a. : a group of broodmares and stallions kept for breeding
dictated the break-up of this mare's wonderful stud — London Calling
b. : a group of animals kept or maintained for selective propagation
a stud of light canaries could very soon be transformed into one of dark selfs — All-Pets Magazine
2. : an establishment or farm where horses are kept for breeding
one of the most modern and well equipped trotting studs in this state — Sporting Life
3.
a. : a group of horses bred or kept by one owner
owner of a stud of blooded horses — C.G.Bowers
each omnibus claimed the services of a stud of ten horses — Hugh McCausland
b. : a group of animals of a particular kind belonging to one owner
my own stud built from six generations of red siskin breeding — All-Pets Magazine
4.
a.
[by shortening]
: studhorse
b. : a male animal kept for breeding especially for public use for a fee — compare brood 4
c. : an outstanding plant selected for use in breeding because of inherent desirable qualities — used especially of orchids
d. slang : a young male person
an oily stud in a second-hand sports jacket — Al Hine
5. : stud poker
•
- at stud
II. noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English stode, from Old English studu; akin to Middle High German stud prop, post, Old Norse stoth post, Old English stōw place — more at stow
1.
a. obsolete : an upright prop or support used in a building : pillar , post
b. : one of the smaller uprights in the framing of the walls of a building to which sheathing, paneling, or laths are nailed or fastened : scantling
c. : the height of a room from floor to ceiling
built a house at least 15 by 15 feet with a seven-foot stud — Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican
2. : something attached to, fixed in, or projecting from a surface: as
a. : a boss, rivet, or nail with a large head used (as on a shield, bridle, bag, or belt) for ornament or protection
b. : a solid button with a shank or eye on the back that is inserted through one or more eyelets usually in a garment to serve as a fastener or ornament
studs for a dress shirt
stud earrings
3. : a short branch of a plant or tree : stub , spur
4. : any of various infixed pieces (as a rod or pin) projecting from a machine and serving chiefly as a support or axis: as
a. : a short live spindle or mandrel (as in the change gear for a screw-cutting lathe)
b. : stud bolt
c. : a metal piece in a timepiece to which is attached the outer or upper coil of a hairspring
d. : a projecting pin or dowel on a loose piece used in patternmaking
e. : a chaplet with a baseplate and a disk top
f. : an iron brace across the link of a chain cable
g. : a part that conducts electric current from a terminal to a contact of a switch
h. : cleat
III. transitive verb
( studded ; studded ; studding ; studs )
1. : to furnish (a building or wall) with studs
an old house with low- studded rooms
2. : to adorn, cover, or protect with studs
likes to stud her jewelry with semiprecious cabochons — New Yorker
players … wearing a pair of studded shoes — Don Iddon
gatehouse with original studded door — Nikolaus Pevsner
3. : to mark or set (a place or thing) with a number of prominent objects
several small islands stud the broad sweep of water — American Guide Series: Maine
miles of green tundra … studded by scattered patches of trees — L.R.Huber
its pansy-like red blossom studded thickly with tiny hairs tipped with … dew — Laura Krey
figures of speech thickly stud his work — J.G.Southworth
4. : to secure with studs
IV. abbreviation
student