Sterling Heights (stør´liŋ) city in SE Mich.: suburb of Detroit: pop. 118,000 [after A. W. Sterling, early settler]

Stern (størn) 1 Isaac 1920- ; U.S. violinist, born in Russia 2 Otto 1888-1969; U.S. physicist, born in Germany

stern chaser a gun mounted on the stern of a ship, used for firing to the rear

stern sheets the space at the stern of an open boat

stern¹ (størn) •adj. 1 hard; severe; unyielding; strict {stern measures} 2 grim; forbidding {a stern face} 3 relentless; inexorable {stern reality} 4 unshakable; firm {stern determination} SYN. SEVERE stern´ly •adv. stern´ness •n. [ME sterne < OE styrne < IE base *ster-, stiff, rigid > STARE, STARVE]

stern² (størn) •n. 1 the rear end of a ship or boat 2 the rear end of anything [ME steorne, stern, rudder < ON stjorn, steering < styra, to STEER¹]

sterna (stør´nэ) •n. alt. pl. of STERNUM

sternal (størn´эl) •adj. of or near the sternum

Sterne (størn), Laurence 1713-68; Brit. novelist & clergyman, born in Ireland

sternforemost (størn'för´moust) •adv. 1 with the stern foremost; backward 2 awkwardly; clumsily

sternmost (størn´moust') •adj. 1 nearest the stern 2 last in a line of ships; farthest astern

Sterno (stør´nou) trademark for gelatinized methyl alcohol with nitrocellulose, sold in cans as a fuel for small stoves or chafing dishes

sterno- (stør´nou, -nэ) combining form of the sternum, sternum and {sternalgia} Also, before a vowel, stern- [< STERNUM]

sternpost (størn´poust') •n. the main, upright piece at the stern of a vessel, usually supporting the rudder

sternson (størn´sэn) •n. a heavy curved piece connecting a ship's keelson to the sternpost Also sternson knee or stern knee [STERN² + (KEEL)SON]

sternum (stør´nэm) pl. ster´nums •n.or ster´na a thin, flat structure of bone and cartilage to which most of the ribs are attached in the front of the chest in most vertebrates; breastbone: see SKELETON, illus. [ModL < Gr sternon, the breastbone < IE base *ster-, to spread out, STREW]

sternutation (stør'nyu: tei´shэn) •n. a sneeze or the act of sneezing [L sternutatio < sternutare, freq. of sternuere, to sneeze < IE echoic base *pster-, to sneeze > Gr ptarnysthai]

sternutator (stør´nyu: teit'эr) •n. a gas designed to incapacitate by severely irritating the respiratory passages

sternutatory (stэr nyu:t´э tör'i:) •adj. 1 of or causing sternutation 2 being, or having the effect of, a sternutator Also ster·nu·ta·tive (stør´nyu: teit'iv) •n. pl. -ries a sternutatory substance

sternward (størn´wэrd) •adv., adj. toward the stern; astern Also stern´wards (-wэrdz) •adv.

sternway (-wei') •n. backward movement of a ship

stern-wheeler (-hwi:l'эr, -wi:l'эr) •n. a steamboat propelled by a paddle wheel at the stern

steroid (stir´oid', ster´-) •n. any of a group of compounds including the sterols, bile acids, sex hormones, etc., characteristically having the carbon-atom ring structure of the sterols ste·roi´dal •adj. [< fol. + -OID]

sterol (stir´öl', ster´-; -oul') •n. any of a group of solid cyclic unsaturated alcohols, as cholesterol, found in plant and animal tissues [< (CHOLE)STEROL]

stertor (stør´tэr) •n. loud, raspy, labored breathing, or snoring, caused by obstructed respiratory passages ster´to·rous •adj. ster´to·rous·ly •adv. ster´to·rous·ness •n. [ModL < L stertere, to snore]

stet (stet) v. let it stand: a printer's term used to indicate that matter previously marked for deletion is to remain •vt. stet´ted, stet´ting to cancel a change in or a marked deletion of (a word, character, passage, etc., as in a proof or manuscript), as by writing stet in the margin and underlining stetted matter with a row of dots [L, 3d pers. sing., pres. subj., of stare, to STAND]

stetho- (steθ´ou, -э) combining form chest, breast {stethoscope} Also, before a vowel, steth- [Gr stētho- < stēthos, the chest, breast]

stethoscope (steθ´э skoup') •n. Med. a hearing instrument used in auscultation, for examining the heart, lungs, etc. by listening to the sounds they make steth'o·scop´ic (-skäp´ik) or steth'o·scop´i·cal •adj. steth'o·scop´i·cal·ly •adv. ste·thos·co·py (ste θäs´kэ pi:) •n. [Fr stéthoscope: see STETHO- & -SCOPE]

St-Étienne (sæñ tei tyen´) city in SE France: pop. 207,000

Stetson (stet´sэn) trademark for hats of various kinds •n. [often s-] a hat, worn esp. by Westerners, usually of felt, with a broad brim and a high, soft crown [after John B. Stetson (1830-1906), who originated it]

Stettin (shte ti:n´) Ger. name of SZCZECIN

Steuben (stu:´bэn; Ger shtoi´bэn), Baron Frederick William Augustus von 1730-94; Prus. military officer: served as Am. general in the American Revolution

stevedore (sti:´vэ dör') •n. a person employed at loading and unloading ships; longshoreman •vt., vi. -dored', -dor'ing to load or unload the cargo of (a ship) [Sp estivador < estivar, to stow, ram tight: see STEEVE¹]

Steven (sti:´vэn) a masculine name: see STEPHEN

Stevens (sti:´vэnz) 1 John Paul 1920- ; associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court (1975- ) 2 Thaddeus 1792-1868; U.S. statesman & abolitionist 3 Wallace 1879-1955; U.S. poet

Stevenson (sti:´vэn sªn), Robert Louis (Balfour) 1850-94; Scot. novelist, poet, & essayist

stew¹ (stu:, styu:) •vt. to cook by simmering or boiling slowly for a long time •vi. 1 to undergo cooking in this way 2 to be oppressed with heat, crowded conditions, etc. 3 to fret, fume, or worry; be vexed or troubled •n. [ME stewe < MFr estuve] 1 early term for BROTHEL: usually used in pl. [< obs. sense, a public room for hot baths] 2 a dish, esp. a mixture of meat and vegetables, cooked by stewing 3 a state of vexation or worry SYN. BOIL¹ stew in one's own juice to suffer from one's own actions [ME stuen < MFr estuver, to stew, bathe < VL *extufare < L ex, out + Gr typhos, steam, smoke < IE *dheubh- < base *dheu-, blow, be turbid > DULL]

stew² (stu:, styu:) •n. [Slang] short for STEWARDESS

steward (stu:´эrd, styu:´-) •n. 1 a person put in charge of the affairs of a large household or estate, whose duties include supervision of the kitchen and the servants, management of household accounts, etc. 2 one who acts as a supervisor or administrator, as of finances and property, for another or others 3 a person variously responsible for the food and drink, the service personnel, etc. in a club, restaurant, etc. 4 a person, usually one of a group, in charge of arrangements for a ball, race, meeting, etc. 5 a) an attendant, as on a ship, train, etc., employed to look after the passengers' comfort b) FLIGHT ATTENDANT 6 an officer on a ship who is in charge of stores and culinary arrangements 7 short for SHOP STEWARD 8 a person morally responsible for the careful use of money, time, talents, or other resources, esp. with respect to the principles or needs of a community or group {our responsibility as stewards of the earth's resources} •vi. to act as a steward •vt. to be the steward of (something); manage stew´ard·ship' •n. [ME stiward < OE stiweard < stig, enclosure, hall, STY¹ + weard, keeper, WARD]

stewardess (-эr dis) •n. 1 a woman STEWARD (n. 5a) 2 a woman FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Stewart (stu:´эrt, styu:´-) 1 a masculine name: see STUART 2 James (Maitland) (called Jimmy) 1908- ; U.S. film actor 3 Potter 1915-1985; U.S. jurist: associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court (1958-81) Stewart island of New Zealand, just south of South Island: 670 sq. mi. (1,735 sq. km)

stewed (stu:d) •adj. 1 cooked by stewing, as food 2 [Slang] drunk; intoxicated

stewpan (stu:´pæn', styu:´-) •n. a pan used for stewing

stg sterling

stge storage

sthenic (sθen´ik) •adj. 1 early term for MESOMORPHIC (sense 2) 2 designating or of feelings or symptoms marked by excessive excitement, strength, or activity [< Gr sthenos, strength + -IC]

stibine (stib´эn, -in) •n. antimonous hydride, SbH3, a colorless, poisonous gas [< L stibium, antimony < Gr stibi, stimi < Egypt sdm + -INE³]

stibnite (-nait') •n. native trisulfide of antimony, Sb2S3, a lead-gray, usually crystalline mineral [< STIBINE + -ITE¹]

stich (stik) •n. Prosody a line of prose or, esp., of verse [Gr stichos: see STILE¹]

stichometry (sti käm´э tri:) •n. the practice of expressing the successive ideas in a prose composition in single lines of lengths corresponding to natural cadences or sense divisions stich·o·met·ric (stik'э met´rik) •adj. [< Gr stichos, a line (see STILE¹) + -METRY]

stichomythia (stik'э miθ´i: э) •n. dialogue in brief, alternate lines, as in ancient Greek drama Also sti·chom·y·thy (sti käm´э θi:) stich'o·myth´ic •adj. [Gr < stichos, a line (see STILE¹) + mythos, speech, MYTH]

-stichous (stik´эs) combining form forming adjectives having (a specified number or kind of) rows [< Gr stichos, a line (see STILE¹) + -OUS]

stick (stik) •n. 1 a long, usually slender piece of wood; specif., a) a twig or small branch broken off or cut off, esp. a dead and dry one b) a tree branch of any size, used for fuel, etc. c) a long, slender, and usually tapering piece of wood shaped for a specific purpose, as a wand, staff, club, baton, cane, rod, etc. 2 a stalk, as of celery 3 something shaped like a stick; sticklike piece {a stick of chewing gum} 4 a separate item; article {every stick of furniture} 5 an implement used for striking a ball, puck, etc. {a hockey stick} 6 something made of sticks, as a racing hurdle 7 a sticking, as with a pointed weapon; stab 8 anything, as a threat, used in compelling another 9 the power of adhering or making adhere 10 short for STICK SHIFT 11 a number of bombs, parachutists, etc. dropped from the air in such a way as to fall in a line across a target area 12 [Archaic] a stoppage, delay, or obstacle 13 [Colloq.] a dull, stupid, or spiritless person Æ 14 [Slang] a marijuana cigarette 15 Aeron. JOYSTICK (sense 1) 16 Naut. a mast or a part of a mast 17 Printing a composing stick or its contents •vt. stuck or, for vt. 9, sticked, stick´ing [combination of ME steken, to prick, fasten (< OE stecan) & ME stikien < OE stician, to stick, stab, prick: both akin to the n.] 1 to pierce or puncture, as with a pointed instrument 2 to kill by piercing; stab 3 to pierce something with (a knife, pin, etc.) 4 to thrust or push (in, into, out, etc.) {to stick one's finger into a hole} 5 to set with piercing objects {a cushion stuck with pins} 6 a) to fasten or attach as by gluing, pinning, etc. {to stick a poster on a wall} b) to decorate with things fastened in this way 7 a) to transfix or impale b) to impale (insect specimens, etc.), as on a pin, and mount for exhibit 8 to obstruct, entangle, bog down, etc.; also, to detain, delay, etc.: usually used in the passive {the wheels were stuck, we were stuck in town} 9 [< the n.] a) to prop (a vine, etc.) with a stick or sticks b) Printing to set type in a composing stick10 [Colloq.] to place; put; set 11 [Colloq.] to make sticky by smearing 12 [Colloq.] to puzzle; baffle {to be stuck by a question} 13 [Slang] a) to make pay, often exorbitantly b) to impose a disagreeable task, burden, expense, etc. upon c) to cheat or defraud 14 [Colloq., Chiefly Brit., etc.] to endure or tolerate •vi. 1 to be or remain fixed or embedded by a pointed end, as a nail, etc. 2 to be or remain attached by adhesion; adhere; cleave 3 a) to remain in the same place; stay; abide {they stick at home} b) to remain fixed in the memory c) to remain in effect {to make the charges stick} 4 to remain in close association; be fixed; cling {friends stick together, the nickname stuck} 5 to keep close {to stick to a trail} 6 to persevere; persist {to stick at a job} 7 to remain firm and resolute; endure {they stuck through thick and thin} 8 to become fixed, blocked, lodged, etc. as by an obstacle; specif., a) to become embedded and immovable {a shoe stuck in the mud} b) to become unworkable; jam {the gears stuck} c) to become stopped or delayed; come to a standstill {a bill stuck in committee} 9 to be puzzled 10 to be reluctant; hesitant; scruple {a person who will stick at nothing} 11 to protrude, project, or extend (out, up, through, etc.) Æ on the stick [Slang] alert, efficient, etc. stick around [Slang] to stay near at hand; not go away stick by (or to) to remain faithful or loyal to stick it out [Slang] to carry on or endure something until it is ended Æ stick to one's ribs to be nourishing and satisfying: said of food stick up [Slang] to commit armed robbery upon stick up for [Colloq.] to support; uphold; defend Æ the sticks [Colloq.] the rural districts; hinterland SYN.—stick is the simple, general term here, implying attachment by gluing or fastening together in any way, by close association, etc. [to stick a stamp on a letter, to stick to a subject]; adhere implies firm attachment and, of persons, denotes voluntary allegiance or devotion as to an idea, cause, or leader [to adhere to a policy]; cohere implies such close sticking together of parts as to form a single mass [glue made the particles of sawdust cohere]; cling implies attachment by embracing, entwining, or grasping with the arms, tendrils, etc. [a vine clinging to the trellis]; cleave is a poetic or lofty term implying a very close, firm attachment [my tongue cleaved to the roof of my mouth, Ruth cleaved to Naomi] —ANT. part, detach, separate [ME stikke < OE sticca, akin to Du stek, ON stik < IE base *steig-, a point > STAKE, Frank *stakka, Gr stigma, L INSTIGATE, instigare]

stick figure 1 a simple drawing, as by a child, of a human or animal figure, of which the torso and limbs are depicted by mere straight lines 2 a character, as in a novel, portrayed in a superficial or shallow way

stick insect a sticklike phasmid insect

stick shift a type of motor vehicle transmission requiring manual shifting of the gears coordinated with a clutch pedal; manual transmission

stickability (stik'э bil´э ti:) •n. the ability to endure something or persevere in something [prec. + ABILITY]

stickball (stik´böl') •n. a game like baseball played by children, as on city streets, with improvised equipment such as a broom handle and a soft rubber ball

sticker (-эr) •n. a person or thing that sticks; specif., Æ a) a bur, barb, or thorn Æ b) a gummed label c) [Colloq.] STICKLER d) [Slang] a knife used as a weapon

sticker price the manufacturer's suggested retail price, as of a new automobile, usually subject to a negotiated discount [because shown as on an affixed sticker]

stickful (-ful') •n. the contents of a composing stick

stickily (-эl i:) •adv. in a sticky manner

stickiness (-i: nis) •n. a sticky quality or condition

sticking plaster adhesive material for covering a slight wound, usually a thin cloth gummed on one side

sticking point 1 a point beyond which someone or something will not budge 2 a point or issue that causes action, negotiations, etc. to come to a standstill

stick-in-the-mud (stik´ªn ðэ mûd') •n. [Colloq.] a person who resists change or progress, new ideas, etc.

stickle (stik´эl) -led, -ling •vi. 1 to raise objections, haggle, or make difficulties, esp. in a stubborn, narrow manner and usually about trifles 2 to have objections; scruple (at) [prob. < ME stightlen, to rule, order, dispose, freq. of stighten, to dispose, destine < OE stihtan, prob. akin to Ger stiften, to arrange, establish: for prob. IE base see STIFF]

stickleback (stik´эl bæk') •n. any of a family (Gasterosteidae, order Gasterosteiformes) of small, bony-plated, marine and freshwater bony fishes with two to eleven sharp spines in front of the dorsal fin: the male builds a nest for the female's eggs [ME stykylbak < OE sticel, a prick, sting < base of sticca (see STICK) + ME bak, BACK¹]

stickler (stik´lэr) •n. 1 a person who insists on the strict observance of something specified: usually with for {a stickler for discipline} Æ 2 [Colloq.] something puzzling or difficult to solve [see STICKLE]

stickman (stik´mæn') pl. -men' (-men') •n. [Slang] Æ 1 an employee of a gambling house who oversees the play, esp. at a dice table, raking in the dice and chips, as with a stick 2 a player, as in hockey, with reference to the player's skill with the stick {a good stickman}

stickpin (-pin') •n. 1 a long, straight pin with a jeweled or decorated head, worn to hold a cravat or necktie in place 2 such a pin now often worn by women, as on the lapel of a jacket as an ornament

stickseed (-si:d') •n. any of several plants with barbs or prickles on the seeds or fruit; esp., any of a genus (Lappula) of the borage family with small, blue or whitish flowers

sticktight (stik´ tait') •n. 1 a) BUR MARIGOLD b) STICKSEED 2 the barbed achene of any of these plants

stick-to-itiveness (stik tu:´it iv nis) •n. [Colloq.] pertinacity; persistence; perseverance

stickum (stik´эm) •n. [Colloq.] any sticky, or adhesive, substance [STICK + 'em, short for THEM]

stickup (-ûp') slang term for HOLDUP (sense 2) •n.

stickweed (-wi:d') •n. any of various North American plants with barbed seeds, as the ragweed or stickseed

stickwork (stik´wørk') •n. skill in using a stick, as a hockey stick, drumsticks, a baseball bat, etc.

sticky (stik´i:) stick´i·er, stick´i·est •adj. 1 a) that sticks; adhesive; tending to cling to anything touched b) not moving easily {sticky valves} 2 covered with an adhesive substance {sticky fingers} 3 [Colloq.] hot and humid {a sticky climate} Æ 4 [Colloq.] difficult to deal with; troublesome {a sticky problem} Æ 5 [Colloq.] overly sentimental; maudlin

sticky fingers [Slang] an inclination to steal or pilfer stick´y-fin´gered •adj.

sticky wicket 1 Cricket the playing area between the wickets when it is damp and hence sticky and slow 2 [Colloq., Chiefly Brit., etc.] a difficult or awkward situation

Stieglitz (sti:g´lits), Alfred 1864-1946; U.S. photographer

stiff (stif) •adj. 1 hard to bend or stretch; rigid; firm; not flexible or pliant 2 hard to move or operate; not free or limber 3 stretched tight; taut; tense 4 a) sore or limited in movement (said of joints and muscles) b) having such joints or muscles, as from exertion, cold, etc. 5 not fluid or loose; viscous; thick; dense; firm {to beat egg whites until stiff} 6 strong; specif., a) moving swiftly, as a breeze or current b) containing much alcohol (said of a drink) c) of high potency {a stiff dose of medicine} d) done or delivered with great force; powerful 7 harsh {stiff punishment} 8 difficult to do or deal with {a stiff climb, stiff competition} 9 excessively formal, constrained, or awkward; not easy, natural, or graceful 10 resolute, stubborn, or uncompromising, as a person, a fight, etc. 11 [Colloq.] high or excessive {a stiff price} 12 [Slang] drunk; intoxicated 13 Naut. not careening or heeling over much despite the amount of sail carried or the strength of the wind •adv. 1 to a stiff condition 2 [Colloq.] completely; thoroughly {scared stiff} •n. [Slang] Æ 1 a corpse Æ 2 a drunken person 3 an excessively formal or constrained person Æ 4 an awkward or rough person Æ 5 a hobo Æ 6 a man {a working stiff} 7 a person who gives a small tip or no gratuity at all Æ stiffed, stiff´ing •vt. [Slang] 1 to cheat (someone), as by not paying 2 to fail to leave a tip for SYN. FIRM¹ stiff´ish •adj. stiff´ly •adv. stiff´ness •n. [ME stif < OE, akin to Ger steif < IE *stip-, a pole, stick together (var. of base *steib(h)-, rod) > L stipes, stem, stake, log, stipare, to crowd, cram]

stiff-arm (-ärm') Æ vt. to push away (an opponent) with one's arm out straight Æ n. the act of stiff-arming

stiffen (stif´эn) •vt., vi. to make or become stiff or stiffer stiff´en·er •n.

stiff-necked (stif´nekt') •adj. stubborn; obstinate

stifle¹ (stai´fэl) -fled, -fling •vt. 1 to kill by cutting off the supply of air from; suffocate; smother; choke 2 to suppress or repress; hold back; check, stop, inhibit, etc. {to stifle a sob, to stifle protests} •vi. 1 to die from lack of air 2 to suffer from lack of fresh, cool air sti´fler •n. [altered (prob. infl. by ON stīfla, to stop up: for IE base see STIFF) < ME stuflen, freq. formation < MFr estouffer, to smother < VL *stuppare, to stuff up (see STOP), infl. by *extufare, to quench, smother, steam, STEW¹]

stifle² (stai´fэl) •n. the kneelike joint above the hock in the hind leg of a horse, dog, etc.: see HORSE, illus. Also stifle joint [ME]

stifling (stai´fliŋ) •adj. so close as to be oppressive; suffocating sti´fling·ly •adv.

stigma (stig´mэ) pl. -mas; also, and for 4, 5, 7, & 8 usually, stig·ma·ta (stig´mэ tэ; stig mät´э, -mæt´э) •n. 1 [Archaic] a distinguishing mark burned or cut into the flesh, as of a slave or criminal 2 something that detracts from the character or reputation of a person, group, etc.; mark of disgrace or reproach 3 a mark, sign, etc. indicating that something is not considered normal or standard 4 a small mark, scar, opening, etc. on the surface of a plant or animal, as a pore or eyespot, etc. 5 a) a spot on the skin, esp. one that bleeds as the result of certain nervous tensions b) [pl.] marks resembling the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, appearing on some devout persons in a state of intense religious fervor 6 Bot. the free upper tip of the style of a flower, on which pollen falls and develops: see PISTIL, illus. 7 Med. any sign characteristic of a specific disease 8 Zool. SPIRACLE (sense 3a) stig´mal •adj. [L < Gr, lit., a prick with a pointed instrument < stizein, to prick: for IE base see STICK]

stigmasterol (stig mæs´tэ röl', -roul') •n. a sterol, C29H48O, isolated from soy or Calabar beans [contr. < ModL Physostigma (see PHYSOSTIGMINE) + STEROL]

stigmatic (stig mæt´ik) •adj. 1 of, like, or having a stigma, stigmas, or stigmata: also stig·mat´i·cal 2 of or having STIGMATISM (sense 2) •n. a person marked with stigmata Also stig´ma·tist stig·mat´i·cal·ly •adv.

stigmatism (stig´mэ tiz'эm) •n. 1 the condition characterized by the presence of stigmas or stigmata 2 the condition of a lens, and the normal condition of the eye, in which rays of light from a single point are focused upon a single point

stigmatize (stig´mэ taiz') -tized', -tiz'ing •vt. 1 to mark with a stigma, stigmas, or stigmata 2 to characterize or mark as disgraceful stig'ma·ti·za´tion •n. [ML stigmatizare: see STIGMA & -IZE]

stilbene (stil´bi:n') •n. a crystalline hydrocarbon, C6H5CH:CHC6H5, used in the manufacture of dyes and as a crystal scintillation detector [< Gr stilbein, to glitter + -ENE]

stilbestrol (stil bes´tröl', -troul') •n. DIETHYLSTILBESTROL [< prec. + ESTR(ONE) + -OL²]

stilbite (stil´ bait') •n. a native hydrous silicate of sodium, calcium, and aluminum, one of the zeolite group, often found in the form of sheaflike crystalline aggregates [Fr < Gr stilbein, to glitter: see -ITE¹]

stile¹ (stail) •n. 1 a step or set of steps used in climbing over a fence or wall 2 short for TURNSTILE [ME < OE stigel < stigan, to climb < IE base *steigh-, to step, climb > STAIR, Sans stighnoti, (he) climbs, Gr stichos, a row, line]

stile² (stail) •n. a vertical piece in a panel or frame, as of a door or window [Du stijl, doorpost]

stiletto (sti let´ou) pl. -tos or -toes •n. 1 a small dagger, having a slender, tapering blade 2 a small, sharp-pointed instrument used for making eyelet holes in cloth, etc. 3 chiefly Brit., etc. term for spike heel: see SPIKE¹ (n. 4c): in full stiletto heel •vt. -toed, -to·ing to stab, or kill by stabbing, with a stiletto [It, dim. of stilo, dagger < L stilus: see STYLE]

still alarm a fire alarm given by telephone or by any means other than the regular signal device

still hunt a stealthy hunt for game, as by stalking or using cover still´-hunt' •vt., vi.

still life 1 small inanimate objects, as fruit, bottles, flowers, books, etc., used as subjects for a picture 2 pl. still lifes a picture having such a subject still´-life' •adj.

still¹ (stil) •adj. 1 without sound; quiet; silent 2 hushed, soft, or low in sound 3 not moving; stationary; at rest; motionless: following stand, sit, lie, etc., sometimes regarded as an adverb 4 characterized by little or no commotion or agitation; tranquil; calm; serene {the still water of the lake} 5 not effervescent or bubbling: said of wine 6 Film designating or of a single posed photograph or a photograph made from a single frame of movie film, for use as in publicity •n. 1 silence; quiet {in the still of the night} 2 Film a still photograph •adv. 1 at or up to the time indicated, whether past, present, or future 2 even; yet: used as an intensifier with a comparative form, etc. {cold yesterday, but still colder today} 3 nevertheless; even then; yet {rich but still unhappy} 4 [Archaic] ever; constantly conj. nevertheless; yet •vt. to make still; quiet; specif., a) to make silent b) to make motionless c) to calm; relieve •vi. to become still still and all [Colloq.] nevertheless still´ness •n. [ME < OE stille, akin to Ger still < IE *stelnu- < base *stel-, to place, set up, standing, immobile > STALK¹, STALL¹, L locus, place, Gr stēlē, a post]

still² (stil) •n. 1 an apparatus used for distilling liquids, esp. alcoholic liquors 2 DISTILLERY •vt., vi. 1 to distill 2 [Dial.] to distill (alcoholic liquor) illegally [< obs. still, to distill < L stillare, to drop, drip, trickle < stilla, a drop < *stir(a)la, dim. of stiria, a drop: see STONE]

stillbirth (stil´børθ') •n. 1 the birth of a stillborn fetus 2 a stillborn fetus

stillborn (-börn´) •adj. 1 dead when delivered from the womb 2 unsuccessful from the beginning; abortive

Stillson wrench (stil´sэn) trademark for a wrench having a ridged jaw that moves through a collar pivoted loosely to the shaft, used for turning pipes, etc.: the jaw tightens as pressure is applied to the handle [after Daniel Stillson, its U.S. inventor (1869)]

stilly (stil´i:; for adv., stil´li:) still´i·er, still´i·est •adj. [Literary] still; silent; calm •adv. in a still manner; silently; calmly [ME stilleli < OE stillice] [ME stillich < OE stillic]

stilt (stilt) •n. 1 either of a pair of poles fitted with a footrest somewhere along its length and used for walking with the feet above the ground, as by children at play, by acrobats, etc. 2 any of a number of long posts or piles used to hold a building, etc. above the ground or out of the water 3 pl. stilts or stilt any of several shorebirds (family Recurvirostridae) with a long, slender bill, long legs, and three-toed feet; esp., the black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), living chiefly in marshes and ponds of temperate North America and N South America [ME stilte, prob. < MLowG or MDu stelte, akin to Ger stelze: for base see STILL¹]

stilted (stil´tid) •adj. 1 raised or elevated on or as on stilts 2 artificially formal or dignified; pompous stilt´ed·ly •adv. stilt´ed·ness •n.

Stilton (cheese) (stil´tэn) a rich, crumbly cheese with veins of blue-green mold [orig. sold at Stilton, village in EC England]

Stimson (stim´sэn), Henry L(ewis) 1867-1950; U.S. statesman: secretary of state (1929-33): secretary of war (1911-13; 1940-45)

stimulant (stim´yu: lэnt, -yэ-) •adj. that stimulates; stimulating •n. anything that stimulates; specif., a) any drug, etc. that temporarily increases the activity of some vital process or of some organ b) popularly, an alcoholic drink (alcohol is physiologically a depressant) [L stimulans, prp.]

stimulate (-leit') -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vt. 1 to rouse or excite to action or increased action; animate; spur on 2 to invigorate or seem to invigorate, as by an alcoholic drink 3 Med., Physiol. to excite (an organ, part, etc.) to activity or increased activity •vi. to act as a stimulant or stimulus SYN. ANIMATE, PROVOKE stim´u·lat'er or stim´u·la'tor •n. stim'u·la´tion •n. stim´u·la'tive •adj., n. [< L stimulatus, pp. of stimulare, to prick, goad, excite < stimulus: see STIMULUS]

stimulus (-lэs) pl. -u·li' (-lai') •n. 1 something that rouses or incites to action or increased action; incentive 2 Physiol., Psychol. any action or agent that causes or changes an activity in an organism, organ, or part, as something that excites an end organ, starts a nerve impulse, activates a muscle, etc. [L, a goad, sting, torment, pang, spur, incentive: see STYLE]

stimy (stai´mi:) pl. -mies •n. STYMIE •vt. -mied, -my·ing

sting (stiŋ) stung, sting´ing •vt. 1 to prick or wound with a sting: said of plants and insects 2 to cause sharp, sudden, smarting pain to, by or as by pricking with a sharp point {the cold wind stinging their cheeks} 3 to cause to suffer mentally; make unhappy {to be stung by one's conscience} 4 to stir up or stimulate suddenly and sharply {stung into action by her words} 5 [Slang] to cheat; esp., to overcharge •vi. 1 to use a sting; prick or wound with a sting 2 to cause or feel sharp, smarting pain, either physical or mental {his arm stinging from the blow} •n. [OE sting] 1 the act of stinging 2 a pain or wound resulting from or as from stinging 3 a thing that urges or stimulates; goad 4 the ability or power to sting or wound {criticism with much sting in it} 5 a sharp-pointed organ in insects and certain other animals, used to prick, wound, or inject poison 6 any of the stinging, hollow hairs on some plants, as nettles 7 [Slang] an instance or method of cheating or swindling, as in a confidence game; esp., such an instance or method engaged in by law-enforcement agents to entrap criminals sting´less •adj. [ME stingen < OE stingan, akin to ON stinga < IE base *stegh-, to pierce, sharp > STAG]

stingaree (stiŋ´э ri:', stiŋ'э ri:´) •n. var. of STINGRAY

stinger (stiŋ´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that stings; specif., a) an animal or plant that stings b) a sharp-pointed organ used for stinging; sting c) [Colloq.] a blow, reply, etc. that stings 2 a cocktail made with white crème de menthe, brandy, and ice

stinging hair STING (n. 6)

stingray (stiŋ´rei') •n. any of a family (Dasyatidae, order Myliobatiformes) of large rays having a long, whiplike tail with one or more usually poisonous spines that can inflict painful wounds

stingy¹ (stin´ji:) stin´gi·er, stin´gi·est •adj. 1 giving or spending grudgingly or only through necessity; mean; miserly 2 less than needed or expected; scanty stin´gi·ly •adv. stin´gi·ness •n. SYN.—stingy implies a grudging, mean reluctance to part with anything belonging to one; close suggests the keeping of a tight hold on what one has accumulated; niggardly implies such closefistedness that one grudgingly spends or gives the least amount possible; parsimonious implies unreasonable economy or frugality, often to the point of niggardliness; penurious implies such extreme parsimony and niggardliness as to make one seem poverty-stricken or destitute; miserly implies the penuriousness of one who is meanly avaricious and hoarding —ANT. generous, bountiful [< *stinge, dial. form of STING]

stingy² (stiŋ´i:) •adj. stinging or capable of stinging

stink (stiŋk) stank or stunk, stunk, stink´ing •vi. 1 to give off a strong, unpleasant smell 2 to be very offensive; be hateful or abhorrent 3 [Slang] to be of low standard or quality; be no good 4 [Slang] to have much or an excess: with of or with •n. 1 a strong, unpleasant smell; stench 2 [Slang] a strong public reaction, as one of outrage, censure, protest, etc. stink out to drive or force out by a strong, unpleasant smell stink up to cause to stink stink´y, stink´i·er, stink´i·est, •adj. [ME stinken < OE stincan, akin to Ger stinken]

stink bomb a device made to burn or explode and give off an offensive smell

stink bug any of various foul-smelling insects; esp., any of a family (Pentatomidae) of hemipterous bugs with a broad, shield-shaped body

stinker (-эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that stinks 2 [Slang] a) a contemptible, obnoxious, or disgusting person b) a very difficult task, problem, etc. c) something of very low standard or quality

stinkhorn (-hörn') •n. any of an order (Phallales) of foul-smelling basidiomycetous fungi

stinking (-iŋ) •adj. 1 that stinks; bad-smelling 2 [Slang] a) very bad, unsatisfactory, etc. b) offensive, disgusting, etc. •adv. [Slang] to an excessive or offensive degree stink´ing·ly •adv.

stinking smut BUNT²

stinko (stiŋk´ou) •adj. [Slang] drunk; intoxicated

stinkpot (stiŋk´pät') •n. 1 a kind of stink bomb formerly used in naval warfare Æ 2 a small musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) of the E and S U.S. Æ 3 [Slang] a motorboat

stinkstone (-stoun') •n. any stone, as some limestones, which gives off a foul smell when rubbed or struck, as from decayed organic matter contained in it

stinkweed (-wi:d') •n. any of various plants, as the jimson weed or dog fennel, having a foul or strong smell

stinkwood (-wud') •n. 1 any of several trees whose wood has an offensive odor; esp., a South African tree (Ocotea bullata) of the laurel family, yielding a hard, durable wood 2 the wood of any such tree

stint¹ (stint) •vt. 1 to restrict or limit to a certain quantity, number, share, or allotment, often small or scanty 2 [Archaic] to stop •vi. 1 to be sparing or grudging in giving or using 2 [Archaic] to stop •n. 1 restriction; limit; limitation 2 [Now Rare] a limited or fixed quantity, allotment, share, etc. 3 a) an assigned task or quantity of work b) a specified period of time spent doing something SYN. TASK stint´er •n. [ME stinten, to stint, cease, stop < OE styntan, to blunt or dull, akin to stunt, blunt, dull: see STUNT¹]

stint² (stint) •n. any of various small sandpipers, as the little stint (Calidris minuta) [LME stynte < ?]

stipe (staip) •n. 1 Bot. a usually short, thick stem, as a) the stalk of a mushroom b) the petiole of a fern frond c) a stalklike extension of the receptacle of a spermatophyte d) the stemlike part supporting the thallus in certain algae 2 Zool. STIPES [Fr < L stipes, log, stock, trunk of a tree: see STIFF]

stipel (stai´pэl) •n. a small or secondary stipule at the base of a leaflet sti·pel·late (stai pel´it, -eit) •adj. [ModL, dim. of stipula, STIPULE]

stipend (stai´pэnd, -pend') •n. 1 a regular or fixed payment for services, as a salary 2 any periodic payment, as a pension or allowance SYN. WAGE [ME stipende < L stipendium, tax, impost, tribute, contr. < *stipipendum < stips, small coin or a contribution in small coin (< ?) + pendere, to hang, weigh out, pay: see PENDANT]

stipendiary (stai pen´di: er'i:) •adj. 1 receiving, or performing services for, a stipend 2 paid for by a stipend {stipendiary services} 3 of, or having the nature of, a stipend •n. pl. -ar'ies a person who receives a stipend [L stipendiarius]

stipes (stai´pi:z') pl. stip·i·tes (stip´э ti:z') •n. Zool. a stalklike part or peduncle, as the basal portion of the typical maxilla in insects or an eyestalk stip·i·tate (stip´э teit') •adj. [L: see STIPE]

stipple (stip´эl) -pled, -pling •vt. 1 to paint, draw, engrave, or apply in small points or dots rather than in lines or solid areas 2 to cover or mark with dots or quick dabs; fleck •n. 1 a) the art or method of painting, drawing, or engraving in dots b) the effect produced by this, or an effect, as in nature, resembling it 2 stippled work stip´pler •n. [Du stippelen < stippel, a speckle, dim. of stip, a point, akin to stippen, to prick: for IE base see STIFF]

stipular (stip´yu: lэr) •adj. 1 of or like a stipule or stipules 2 growing on or near a stipule

stipulate¹ (stip´yu: leit', -yэ-) -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vt. 1 to include specifically in the terms of an agreement, contract, etc.; arrange definitely 2 to specify as an essential condition of or requisite in an agreement •vi. to make a specific demand (for something) as a condition of or requisite in an agreement stip´u·la'tor •n. stip´u·la·to'ry (-lэ tör'i:) •adj. [< L stipulatus, pp. of stipulari, to bargain < or akin to Umbrian stiplo, to stipulate; akin to L stips: see STIPEND]

stipulate² (stip´yu: lit, -leit') •adj. having stipules: also stip´u·lat'ed [ModL stipulatus]

stipulation (stip'yu: lei´shэn, -yэ-) •n. 1 the act of stipulating 2 something stipulated, as a condition in a contract [L stipulatio]

stipule (stip´yu:l') •n. either of a pair of small, leaflike parts at the base of some leaf petioles, as on a bean, pea, or rose plant [ModL stipula < L, a stalk, straw, dim. of stipes, trunk: see STIPE]

stir¹ (stør) stirred, stir´ring •vt. 1 to move, shake, agitate, etc., esp. slightly 2 to change the position of slightly; displace {to stir a log} 3 to rouse from sleep, lethargy, indifference, etc. 4 to put (oneself, one's limbs, etc.) into motion or activity, esp. briskly 5 a) to move an implement, the hand, etc. through (a liquid or loose substance) with an agitated motion so that the particles change position with relation to one another b) to mix by or as by imparting such a motion to 6 to excite the feelings of; move strongly 7 to incite or provoke: often with up {to stir up trouble} 8 to evoke, or call up {to stir memories} •vi. 1 to move or change position, esp. only slightly {not a leaf stirred} 2 to be up and about; be busy and active 3 to be taking place, going on, happening, etc. 4 to begin to show signs of activity; begin to come to life 5 to impart an agitated motion to a liquid, mixture, etc. as with a spoon 6 to be stirred {a mixture that stirs easily} •n. 1 the act, an instance, or sound of stirring 2 movement; activity; agitation 3 a state of excitement; commotion; tumult stir´rer •n. SYN.—stir (in this sense, often stir up) implies a bringing into action or activity by exciting or provoking [the colonies were stirred to rebellion]; arouse and rouse are often used interchangeably, but arouse usually implies merely a bringing into consciousness, as from a state of sleep [she was aroused by the bell], and rouse suggests an additional incitement to vigorous action [the rifle shot roused the sleeping guard]; awaken and waken literally mean to arouse from sleep, but figuratively they suggest the elicitation of latent faculties, emotions, etc. [it awakened, or wakened, her maternal feelings]; rally implies a gathering of the component elements or individuals so as to stir to effective action [to rally troops, one's energy, etc.] [ME stirien < OE styrian: see STORM]

stir² (stør) •n. [Slang] a prison [19th-c. thieves' slang, prob. contr. < Romany steripen]

stir-crazy (stør´krei'zi:) •adj. [Slang] neurotically affected by long, close confinement, specif. in prison

stir-fry (stør´frai') -fried', -fry'ing •vt. in Chinese cooking, to fry (diced or sliced vegetables, meat, etc.) very quickly in a wok, with a little oil, while stirring constantly

stirk (størk) •n. [Brit.] a bullock or heifer, esp. one between one and two years old [ME < OE stierc, akin to Goth stairo, barren: see STERILE]

Stirling (stør´liŋ) former county of central Scotland, now in the region called Central: also Stir´ling·shire (-shir')

Stirling engine (stør´liŋ) an external-combustion engine in which the heat released from the burning fuel is transferred to a confined gas, as hydrogen, which activates the pistons [after R. Stirling (1790-1878), Scot engineer who developed the operating principle]

stirps (størps) pl. stir·pes (stør´pi:z') •n. 1 family or branch of a family 2 Law the person from whom a family or branch of a family is descended [L, lit., a stalk, trunk, root < IE base *ster-, rigid, stiff, STARE]

stirring (stør´iŋ) •adj. 1 active; busy 2 that stirs one's feelings; rousing {stirring music} stir´ring·ly •adv.

stirrup (stør´эp, stir´-) •n. 1 a ring with a flat bottom hung by a strap, usually on each side of a saddle and used as a footrest in mounting and riding 2 any of various supports, clamps, etc. resembling or suggesting such a ring 3 Naut. a rope hung from a yard and having an eye at the end for supporting a footrope passed through it [ME stirop < OE stigrap, akin to Ger stegreif: for IE bases see STILE² & ROPE]

stirrup (bone) the stapes, one of the three bones of the middle ear: see EAR¹, illus.

stirrup cup 1 a farewell drink taken by a rider mounted to depart 2 any farewell drink

stirrup leather (or strap) a strap connecting a stirrup with the saddle

stirrup pump a hand pump for putting out fires, set in a bucket and held firm by a stirrup, or bracket, for one foot

stishovite (stish´э vait') •n. a very dense crystalline form of silica similar to coesite [after S. Stishov, Soviet mineralogist who discovered it + -ITE¹]

stitch (stich) •n. 1 a) a single complete in-and-out movement of the threaded needle in sewing b) SUTURE (sense 4c) 2 a single loop of yarn worked off a needle in knitting, crocheting, etc. 3 the piece of thread worked in, or a loop, knot, etc. made, by stitching 4 a particular kind of stitch or style of stitching 5 a sudden, sharp pain in the side or back 6 a bit or piece; specif., an article of clothing {wearing not a stitch} •vi. to make stitches; sew •vt. 1 to fasten, join, repair, adorn, or operate upon with or as with stitches; sew 2 to fasten or unite (cartons, booklets, etc.) with staples in stitches in a state of uproarious laughter stitch´er •n. [ME stiche < OE stice, a puncture, stab: for IE base see STICK]

stitchery (-эr i:) •n. 1 the art of ornamental needlework, as embroidery, crewelwork, etc. 2 pl. -er·ies something made or decorated in this way

stitchwort (-wørt') •n. any of several chickweeds; esp., an Old World perennial (Stellaria holostea) with grasslike leaves [ME stichwurt: see STITCH & WORT²]

stithy (stið´i:, stiθ´-) pl. stith´ies •n. [Now Chiefly Dial.] an anvil or smithy •vt. stith´ied, stith´y·ing [Now Chiefly Dial.] to forge [ME stethie < ON stethi, anvil: for IE base see STEAD]

stiver (stai´vэr) •n. 1 a former Dutch coin equal to ¹/20 of a guilder 2 a trifling sum [Du stuiver < MDu stūver < stūf, stumpy, cut short: for IE base see STEEP¹]

St-Laurent (sæñ lô řäñ´) city in SW Quebec, Canada, on Montreal Island: suburb of Montreal: pop. 64,000

STM or S.T.M. Master of Sacred Theology [L Sacrae Theologiae Magister]

St-Malo (sæñ må lou´) 1 seaport & resort town on an island in the Gulf of St-Malo, NW France: pop. 47,000 2 Gulf of inlet of the English Channel, on the N coast of Brittany, NW France, c. 60 mi. (97 km) wide

St-Nazaire (sæñ nэ zer´) seaport in NW France, at the mouth of the Loire: pop. 69,000

stoa (stou´э) pl. sto´ae (-i:) •n.or sto´as a portico, as in ancient Greece, having a wall on one side and pillars on the other [Gr < IE *stōu- < base *stā- > STAND]

stoat (stout) pl. stoats •n.or stoat a large European ermine (Mustela erminea), esp. in its brown summer coat [ME stote]

stob (stäb) •n. [Dial.] 1 a stake or short post 2 a stump [ME, var. of STUB]

stoccado (stэ kä´dou) •n. [Archaic] a stab or thrust with a pointed weapon [OIt stoccata < stocca, dagger, sword point < MFr estoc < OFr estoquier, to strike with the point < LowG stoken, to stick: for IE base see STOCK]

stochastic (stou kæs´tik, stэ-) •adj. 1 of, pertaining to, or arising from chance; involving probability; random 2 Math. designating a process in which a sequence of values is drawn from a corresponding sequence of jointly distributed random variables [< Gr stochastikos, proceeding by guesswork, lit., skillful in aiming < stochazesthai, to aim at < stochos, a target: for IE base see STING]

stock (stäk) •n. 1 the trunk of a tree 2 [Archaic] a) a tree stump b) a wooden block or log 3 a) a blockhead b) anything lacking life, motion, or feeling 4 a) a plant stem into which a graft is inserted b) a plant from which cuttings are taken 5 an underground plant stem; rhizome or rootstock 6 any of a number of plants of the crucifer family, as evening stock (Mathiola bicornis), or Virginian stock (Malcomia maritima) 7 a) the first of a line of descent; original progenitor, as of a human line, or type, as of a group of animals or plants b) a line of descent; lineage c) a strain, race, or other related group of animals or plants d) an ethnic group or other major subdivision of human beings e) a group of related languages or families of languages 8 a supporting or main part, as the handle of an implement, weapon, etc., to which the working parts are attached; specif., a) a bitstock or brace b) the butt or handle of a whip, fishing rod, etc. c) the block of a plane, in which the cutting blade is inserted d) the frame of a plow, to which the share, handles, etc. are attached e) the handle, usually wooden, to which the barrel of a rifle, shotgun, etc. is attached 9 DIESTOCK 10 [pl.] a framework; specif., a) a former instrument of punishment consisting of a heavy wooden frame with holes for confining the ankles and, sometimes, the wrists of an offender b) a frame of timbers supporting a ship during construction Æ c) a frame in which an animal is held, as for shoeing 11 something out of which other things are made; specif., a) raw material b) water in which meat, fish, etc. has been boiled, used as a base for soup or gravy 12 a specified kind of paper {heavy stock} 13 a store or supply; specif., a) all the animals, equipment, etc. kept and used on a farm b) short for LIVESTOCK c) the total amount of goods on hand in a store, etc.; inventory d) the portion of a pack of playing cards or dominoes not dealt out but left to be drawn from 14 a) [Archaic] the part of a tally given to the creditor b) a debt represented by a tally or tallies c) the capital invested in a company or corporation through the buying of shares, each of which entitles the buyer to a share in the ownership and, usually, dividends, voting rights, etc. d) the proportionate share in the ownership held by an individual stockholder e) the shares of a particular company, industry, etc. or shares, collectively f) short for STOCK CERTIFICATE g) [Colloq.] a part interest in something 15 a STOCK COMPANY (sense 2), or its repertoire 16 a former type of large, wide, stiff cravat 17 STOCK CAR (sense 2) 18 [Obs.] a stocking •vt. 1 to provide with or attach to a stock {to stock a firearm, plow, etc.} 2 a) to furnish (a farm) with stock or (a shop, etc.) with a stock b) to supply with {to stock a pond with fish} 3 to keep or put in a supply of, as for sale or for future use Æ 4 to sow (land) with grass, clover, etc. •vi. 1 to put forth new shoots: said of a plant 2 to put in a stock, or supply: often with up •adj. 1 continually kept in stock {stock sizes} 2 of the nature of something kept in stock; common, ordinary, hackneyed, or trite {a stock excuse} 3 that deals with stock {a stock boy} 4 relating to stock or a stock company 5 for breeding {a stock mare} 6 of, or for the raising of, livestock {stock farming} in stock available for sale or use; on hand on the stocks being built Said of a ship, etc. out of stock not immediately available for sale or use; not on hand take stock 1 to inventory the amount of stock on hand 2 to make an estimate or appraisal, as of available resources, probabilities, etc. Æ take stock in to have faith in, give credence to, or attribute real significance to: also put stock in [ME stocke < OE stocc, akin to Ger stock, Du stok, a stick < IE base *(s)teu-, to strike, chop > STUMP, STUB]

stock car 1 a railroad car built to carry livestock 2 a passenger automobile of standard make, modified in various ways for use in racing: also stock´er •n.

stock certificate a certificate issued as written evidence of ownership to one who buys shares of stock

stock company 1 a company or corporation whose capital is divided into shares 2 a commercial theatrical company that presents a repertoire of plays, usually at one theater

stock dividend 1 a dividend in the form of shares of stock 2 the payment of such a dividend

stock dove a European pigeon (Columba oenas) [ME stockdowe: see STOCK, n. 1 & DOVE¹: it nests in hollow trees]

stock exchange 1 a place where stocks and bonds are regularly bought and sold 2 an association of stockbrokers who meet together for the business of buying and selling stocks and bonds according to regulations

stock farm a farm for raising livestock stock farming

stock in trade 1 goods kept available for sale at a store or shop 2 tools, materials, etc. used in carrying on a trade or a business 3 any resources, practices, or devices characteristically employed by a given person or group

stock market 1 STOCK EXCHANGE 2 the business carried on at a stock exchange 3 the prices quoted on stocks and bonds

stock option an option, as a call or put, to buy or sell stock at a specified price within a specified time, specif., such an option offered to an employee by a company to buy its stock for less than the market price

stock raising the raising of livestock stock raiser

stock split the act or result of splitting stock: see SPLIT (vt. 7)

stockade (stä keid´) •n. 1 a barrier of stakes driven into the ground side by side, for defense against attack Æ 2 an enclosure, as a fort, made with such stakes Æ 3 an enclosure for military prisoners •vt. -ad´ed, -ad´ing to surround, protect, or fortify with a stockade [Fr estacade (also estocade, by assoc. with OFr estoc, trunk, log < Frank *stock, akin to Ger stock: see STOCK) < Prov estacado < estaca, post, stake < Gmc base akin to STAKE]

stockbreeder (stäk´bri:d'эr) •n. a person who breeds and raises livestock stock´breed'ing •n.

stockbroker (-brou'kэr) •n. a person who acts as an agent in buying and selling stocks, bonds, etc.

stockbrokerage (-brou'kэr ij) •n. a stockbroker's work or business: also stock´bro'king

stockfish (stäk´fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' •n.or -fish'es any fish cured by being split and hung in the open air to dry without salt, as cod, haddock, etc. [ME stokfysshe < MDu stokvisch < stok, stick (see STOCK) + visch, FISH]

Stockhausen (shtôk´hau'zэn), Karl·heinz (käřl´haints) 1928- ; Ger. composer

stockholder (-houl'dэr) •n. 1 a person owning stock in a given company 2 in Australia, one who raises cattle

Stockholm (stäk´houm', -houlm'; Swed stôk´hôlm') capital of Sweden: seaport on the Baltic Sea: pop. 635,000 (met. area 1,420,000)

stockiness (stäk´i: nis) •n. the quality of being stocky

stockinette or stockinet (stäk'э net´) •n. 1 an elastic, machine-knitted cloth used for making stockings, underwear, etc. 2 a knitting stitch fashioned by alternating rows of knitting and purling [prob. for earlier stocking net]

stocking (stäk´iŋ) •n. 1 a closefitting covering, usually knitted, for the foot and, usually, most of the leg 2 something resembling this, as a patch of color on the leg of an animal in one's stocking feet wearing stockings or socks but no shoes stock´inged (-iŋd) •adj. [< STOCK, in obs. sense of leg covering + -ING]

stocking cap a long, tapered knitted cap, often with a tassel or pompon at the end of the taper

stocking mask a nylon stocking worn over the head, as by a robber, that distorts the features and makes identification difficult

stockish (stäk´ish) •adj. like a stock, or block of wood; stupid; dull; thickheaded stock´ish·ly •adv.

stockjobber (-jäb'эr) •n. Æ 1 a stockbroker, esp. one engaged in irregular trading: often used contemptuously 2 [Brit., etc.] an operator in the stock exchange who deals only with brokers stock´job'ber·y or stock´job'bing •n.

stockman (-mэn; also, esp. for 3, -mæn') pl. -men (-mэn, -men') •n. 1 a person who owns or raises livestock 2 [Chiefly Austral.] a person who has charge of livestock 3 a person who works in a stockroom or warehouse

stockpile (-pail') •n. a reserve supply of goods, raw material, etc., accumulated esp. in anticipation of future shortage or emergency •vt., vi. -piled', -pil'ing to accumulate a stockpile (of) stock´pil'er •n.

Stockport (stäk´pört') city in NW England, in the county of Greater Manchester: pop. 141,000

stockpot (-pät') •n. 1 a pot used for preparing soup stock 2 a pot, etc. containing any mixture 3 a soup containing various kinds of meat and vegetables

stockroom (-ru:m') •n. a room in which a store of goods, materials, etc. is kept: also stock room

stock-still (stäk´stil´) •adj. as still as a stock, or log; perfectly motionless

Stockton (stäk´tэn) city in central Calif.: pop. 211,000 [after R. F. Stockton (1795-1866), U.S. naval officer]

Stockton-on-Tees (-än ti:z´) seaport in N England, on the Tees River: pop. 83,000

stocky (stäk´i:) stock´i·er, stock´i·est •adj. 1 heavily built; sturdy; short and thickset 2 having a strong, often thick, stem: said of a plant [STOCK, n. 2 + -Y²]

stockyard (stäk´yärd') •n. 1 an enclosure for stock on a farm Æ 2 an enclosure with pens, sheds, etc. where cattle, hogs, sheep, or horses are kept temporarily before slaughtering or shipment: usually used in pl.

stodge (stäj) •n. [Colloq., Chiefly Brit., etc.] 1 heavy, filling food, often unpalatable 2 anything boring or hard to learn •vi., vt. stodged, stodg´ing [Brit. Colloq.] to cram (oneself) with food [< ?]

stodgy (stä´ji:) stodg´i·er, stodg´i·est •adj. 1 heavy and unpalatable: said of food 2 heavily built; bulky and slow in movement 3 dull; tedious; uninteresting 4 drab, unfashionable, or unattractive 5 stubbornly old-fashioned; narrow and conventional stodg´i·ly •adv. stodg´i·ness •n. [< prec. + -Y²]

stogie or stogy (stou´gi:) pl. -gies •n. 1 a) a long, thin cigar, usually inexpensive b) loosely, any cigar 2 a heavy, roughly made shoe or boot [said to be so named because favored by drivers of Conestoga wagons]

Stoic (stou´ik) •n. 1 a member of a Greek school of philosophy founded by Zeno about 308 B.C., holding that all things, properties, relations, etc. are governed by unvarying natural laws, and that the wise man should follow virtue alone, obtained through reason, remaining indifferent to the external world and to passion or emotion 2 [s-] a stoical person •adj. 1 of the Stoics or their philosophy 2 [s-] STOICAL SYN. IMPASSIVE [ME Stoycis (pl.) < L stoicus < Gr stōikos < stoa, porch, colonnade (see STOA): because Zeno taught under a colonnade at Athens]

stoical (stou´i kэl) •adj. 1 showing austere indifference to joy, grief, pleasure, or pain; calm and unflinching under suffering, bad fortune, etc. 2 [S-] STOIC sto´i·cal·ly •adv. [ME: see STOIC & -AL]

stoichiometry (stoi'ki: äm´э tri:) •n. 1 the determination of the proportions in which chemical elements combine or are produced and the weight relations in any chemical reaction 2 the branch of chemistry dealing with the relationships of elements entering into and resulting from combination, esp. with quantitative relationships Alt. Brit. sp. stoi'chei·om´e·try stoi'chi·o·met´ric (-э met´rik) •adj. [< Gr stoicheion, a first principle, element, base, akin to steichein, to step, go (for IE base see STILE¹) + -METRY]

Stoicism (stou´i siz'эm) •n. 1 the philosophical system of the Stoics 2 [s-] indifference to pleasure or pain; stoical behavior; impassivity SYN. PATIENCE

Stoke Newington (stouk nu:´iŋ tэn) former metropolitan borough of London, now part of Hackney

stoke¹ (stouk) stoked, stok´ing •vt., vi. 1 to stir up and feed fuel to (a fire, furnace, etc.) 2 to tend (a furnace, boiler, etc.) 3 to feed or eat large quantities of food; fill (up) [back-form. < STOKER]

stoke² (stouk) •n. the cgs unit of viscosity of a liquid, equal to the poise divided by the density in grams per cubic centimeter: abbrev. St [after Sir George Stokes (1819-1903), Irish-born physicist & mathematician]

stokehold (-hould') •n. 1 a room in which the boilers are stoked on a ship 2 STOKEHOLE (sense 2)

stokehole (-houl') •n. 1 the opening in a furnace or boiler through which the fuel is put 2 a space in front of a furnace or boiler from which the fire is tended, as on a ship 3 STOKEHOLD (sense 1) [STOKE¹ + HOLE: in part transl. of Du stookgat < stoken, to stoke + gat, hole]

Stoke-on-Trent (stouk´än trent´) city in Staffordshire, WC England, on the Trent River: pop. 253,000

stoker (stou´kэr) •n. 1 a person who tends a furnace, specif. of a steam boiler, as, esp. formerly, on a ship, locomotive, etc. 2 a mechanical device that stokes a furnace [Du < stoken, to poke, stir up < stok, a stick: see STOCK]

stokesia (stou ki:´zhi: э, -si: э) •n. a perennial plant (Stokesia laevis) of the composite family, native to the SE U.S.: cultivated for its large, blue or purple flowers [after Jonathan Stokes (1755-1831), Eng botanist]

Stokowski (stэ köf´ski:, -kau´-), Leopold (Boleslawowicz Stanislaw Antoni) 1882-1977; U.S. orchestra conductor, born in England

STOL (stoul) •adj. designating, of, or for an aircraft that can take off and land on a relatively short airstrip •n. a STOL aircraft, airstrip, etc. [s(hort) t(ake)o(ff and) l(anding)]

stole¹ (stoul) •n. 1 a long, robelike outer garment worn by matrons in ancient Rome 2 a long, decorated strip of cloth worn like a scarf by officiating clergymen of various churches 3 a woman's long scarf of cloth or fur worn around the shoulders [ME < OE < L stola < Gr stolē, garment, orig., array, equipment < base of stellein, to place, array: for IE base see STALK¹]

stole² (stoul) •vt., vi. pt. of STEAL

stolen (stou´lэn) •vt., vi. pp. of STEAL

stolid (stäl´id) •adj. having or showing little or no emotion or sensitivity; unexcitable; impassive SYN. IMPASSIVE sto·lid·i·ty (stэ lid´э ti:) or stol´id·ness •n. stol´id·ly •adv. [L stolidus, firm, slow, stupid: for IE base see STILL¹]

stollen (stou´lэn; Ger shtô´lэn) pl. -len •n.or -lens a sweet, yeast-raised, German bread containing fruit and nuts [Ger, lit., post (in reference to shape) < OHG stollo < IE base *stel-, to place > STILL¹]

stolon (stou´län') •n. 1 Bot. a creeping stem that lies on or above the soil surface and bears foliage leaves, as in the strawberry or creeping bent grass 2 Zool. a stemlike, cylindrical structure, as in certain hydroids and tunicates, giving rise to buds from which new individuals grow [ModL stolo (gen. stolonis) < L, a shoot, twig, scion: for IE base see STILL¹]

stolport (stoul´pört') •n. an airport designed for STOL aircraft

stoma (stou´mэ) pl. -ma·ta (-mэ tэ) or -mas •n. 1 Bot. a microscopic opening in the epidermis of plants, surrounded by guard cells and serving for gaseous exchange 2 Zool. a mouth or mouthlike opening; esp., an ingestive opening in lower invertebrates [ModL < Gr, mouth < IE *stomen, mouth > Avestan staman-, (dog's) mouth]

stomach (stûm´эk, -ik) •n. 1 a) the large, saclike organ of vertebrates into which food passes from the esophagus or gullet for storage while undergoing the early processes of digestion (see INTESTINE, illus.) b) any of the separate sections of such a digestive organ, as in ruminants, or all these sections collectively (see RUMINANT, illus.) 2 any enlarged storage portion of the digestive cavity, as in invertebrates 3 the abdomen, or belly 4 appetite for food 5 desire or inclination of any kind 6 [Archaic] character or disposition 7 [Obs.] a) spirit b) pride c) resentment •vt. 1 to be able to eat or digest 2 to tolerate; bear; endure 3 [Obs.] to resent [ME stomak < OFr estomac < L stomachus, gullet, esophagus, stomach < Gr stomachos, throat, gullet < stoma, mouth: see STOMA]

stomach pump a suction pump with a flexible tube led into the stomach through the mouth and esophagus to remove its contents, as in cases of poisoning

stomach tooth either of the canine teeth in the lower jaw of an infant [so called because its appearance is sometimes accompanied by gastric disorders]

stomachache (-eik') •n. pain in the stomach or abdomen

stomacher (-эr) •n. a richly ornamented, triangular piece of cloth formerly worn, esp. by women, as a covering for the chest and abdomen [ME stomachere: see STOMACH & -ER]

stomachic (stэ mæk´ik) •adj. 1 of or having to do with the stomach 2 acting as a digestive tonic Also sto·mach´i·cal •n. a digestive tonic sto·mach´i·cal·ly •adv. [L stomachicus < Gr stomachikos]

stomatal (stou´mэ tэl) •adj. of or having a stoma

stomatic (stou mæt´ik) •adj. 1 of the mouth 2 of, or having the nature of, a stoma [ModL stomaticus < Gr stomatikos < stomata, pl. of stoma, mouth: see STOMA]

stomatitis (stou'mэ tait´is, stäm'э-) •n. inflammation of the mouth [ModL: see STOMATO-]

stomato- (stou´mэ tэ, stäm´э-) combining form of, like, or relating to a mouth {stomatology} Also stomat- [< Gr stoma (gen. stomatos), mouth: see STOMA]

stomatology (stou'mэ täl´э ji:) •n. the branch of medicine dealing with the mouth and its diseases sto'ma·to·log´i·cal (-tэ läj´i kэl) •adj. [prec. + -LOGY]

stomatopod (stou´mэ tэ päd', stäm´э tэ-) •n. any of an order (Stomatopoda) of crustaceans having strong, clasping claws on the second pair of legs and gills on the abdominal appendages; squilla [< ModL Stomatopoda: see STOMATO- & -POD]

stomatous (stou´mэ tэs, stäm´э-) •adj. having a stoma

-stome (stoum) combining form forming nouns mouth or mouthlike opening {cyclostome} [< Gr stoma, mouth: see STOMA]

stomodaeum or stomodeum (stou'mэ di:´эm, stäm'э-) pl. -dae´a or -de´a (-di:´э) •n. the anterior portion of the digestive tract of an embryo, lined with ectoderm and including the mouth area [ModL < Gr stoma, mouth (see STOMA) + hodios, on the way < hodos, way, road < IE *sed-, to go < base *sed-, SIT]

-stomous (stэ mэs) combining form forming adjectives having a (specified kind of) mouth {monostomous} [< Gr stoma (see STOMA) + -OUS]

stomp (stämp) var. of STAMP; esp., to injure or kill by stamping (on) •vt., vi. Æ n. 1 a jazz tune with a lively rhythm and a strong beat 2 a dance to this music

-stomy (stэ mi:) combining form forming nouns a surgical operation making an opening into a (specified) part or organ {colostomy} [Gr -stomia < stoma, mouth: see STOMA]

stone (stoun) •n. 1 the hard, solid, nonmetallic mineral matter of which rock is composed 2 a piece of rock of relatively small size 3 a piece of rock shaped or finished for some purpose; specif., a) a large, solid piece used in building; also, such pieces collectively b) a paving block c) a gravestone or memorial d) a boundary mark or milestone e) a grindstone or whetstone 4 something that resembles a small stone; specif., a) a hailstone b) the stonelike seed of certain fruits, as of a date c) the hard endocarp and the enclosed seed of a drupe, as of a peach d) [Archaic] a testicle 5 short for PRECIOUS STONE 6 pl. stone [Brit.] a unit of weight equal to 14 pounds (6.36 kilograms) 7 Med. CALCULUS (sense 1) 8 a) Printing a table with a smooth top, orig. of stone, on which page forms are composed b) a surface incised or engraved with a design or text to be lithographed •vt. stoned, ston´ing 1 to throw stones at; esp., to kill by pelting with stones 2 to furnish, pave, line, etc. with stones 3 to polish, sharpen, etc. with a stone 4 to remove the stone from (a peach, cherry, etc.) •adj. 1 of stone or stoneware 2 [Slang] complete, utter, thoroughgoing, etc. {a stone genius} [cf. STONE-] •adv. completely, thoroughly, etc. {stone sober} cast the first stone to be the first to censure or criticize leave no stone unturned to do everything possible ston´er •n. [ME < OE stan, akin to Du steen, Ger stein < IE base *stāi-, to become thick, compress, stiffen > L stiria, a drop (< stilla), Gr stear, tallow] Stone (stoun) 1 Edward Du·rell (dэ rel´) 1902-78; U.S. architect 2 Harlan Fiske 1872-1946; U.S. jurist: chief justice of the U.S. (1941-46) 3 Lucy (Mrs. Henry Brown Blackwell) 1818-93; U.S. reformer & suffragist

stone- (stoun) combining form very, completely: used in hyphenated compounds {stone-blind, stone-broke} [< STONE, with the sense of like, or as is, a stone]

Stone Age a period in human culture during which stone implements are used; specif., the time of the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods of the Old World

stone china a kind of stoneware containing a variety of feldspar found in England

stone fruit any fruit, as a plum, having a stone; drupe

stone lily a fossil crinoid

stone marten 1 a light-colored European sable (Martes foina) 2 its fur

Stone Mountain mountain near Atlanta, Ga., on which a huge Confederate memorial is carved: c. 2,000 ft. (609 m) high [descriptive]

stone roller 1 any of a genus (Campostoma) of North American freshwater cyprinoid fishes that hollow out a nest in gravelly stream beds 2 any of a genus (Hypentelium) of sucker fishes of rocky streams

stone-blind (-blaind´) •adj. completely blind [see STONE-]

stone-broke (-brouk´) •adj. [Slang] having no money at all; penniless [STONE- + BROKE]

stonechat (-chæt') •n. any of certain small, insect-eating Old World thrushes (esp. Saxicola torquata) with a black head and back and a white rump [from its cry, like the sound of pebbles knocked together]

stonecrop (-kräp') •n. SEDUM [ME stoncroppe < OE stancrop < stan, STONE + crop, a sprout]

stonecutter (-kût'эr) •n. a person or machine that cuts and dresses stone stone´cut'ting •n.

stoned (stound) •adj. 1 having the stones removed {stoned prunes} Æ 2 [Slang] a) drunk; intoxicated b) under the influence of a drug

stone-deaf (stoun´def´) •adj. completely deaf [see STONE-]

stonefish (stoun´fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish •n.or -fishes any of a family (Synanceiidae, order Scorpaeniformes) of tropical, marine bony fishes having venomous spines, a scaleless body, and a stonelike appearance

stonefly (-flai') pl. -flies' •n. any of an order (Plecoptera) of soft-bodied, winged insects whose nymphs live under stones in swift streams: often used as bait in fishing

Stonehenge (stoun´henj') a circular arrangement of prehistoric megaliths on Salisbury Plain, England, probably set up in the Neolithic period [ME stonheng < ston, STONE + OE henge, (something) hanging: for IE base see HANG]

stonemason (-mei'sэn) •n. a person who cuts stone to shape and uses it in making walls, buildings, etc. stone´ma'son·ry (-ri:) •n.

Stones river in central Tenn., flowing into the Cumberland: c. 60 mi. (97 km)

stone's throw 1 the distance that a stone can be thrown 2 a relatively short distance

stonewall (stoun´wöl') •vi. 1 Cricket to play only a defensive game in order to gain a draw: said of a batsman 2 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] to obstruct a debate, negotiation, etc.; esp., to filibuster 3 [Colloq.] to behave in an obstructive, uncooperative manner, as by refusing to answer, withholding information, etc. when questioned •vt. [Colloq.] to impede or obstruct, esp. by refusing to comply or cooperate with

stoneware (stoun´wer') •n. a dense, opaque, glazed or unglazed pottery containing clay, silica, and feldspar and fired at a high heat

stonework (-wørk') •n. 1 the art or process of working in stone, as in masonry or jewelry 2 something made or built in stone; specif., masonry 3 [pl.] a place where masonry stone is cut and dressed

stonewort (-wørt') •n. any of a class (Charophyceae) of green algae with jointed axes and whorled branches, usually covered with lime

stony (stoun´i:) ston´i·er, ston´i·est •adj. 1 covered with or having many stones 2 of or like stone; specif., a) hard b) unfeeling; pitiless c) cold; fixed; rigid 3 petrifying Also ston´ey ston´i·ly •adv. ston´i·ness •n. [ME < OE stanig]

stony coral any coral having a dense, calcareous, external skeleton (esp. order Scleractinia)

Stony Point village in SE N.Y., on the Hudson: site of a British fort in the Revolutionary War [descriptive]

stonyhearted (-härt´id) •adj. unfeeling; pitiless; cruel ston´y·heart´ed·ness •n.

stood (stud) •vi., vt. pt. & pp. of STAND

stooge (stu:j) •n. [Colloq.] 1 an actor who assists a comedian by feeding him lines, being the victim of pranks, etc. 2 any person who acts as a foil, underling, etc. to another: term of contempt •vi. stooged, stoog´ing [Colloq.] to be a stooge (for someone) [< ?]

stook (stu:k) •n., vt., vi. Brit., etc. term for SHOCK² [ME stouke, prob. < or akin to MLowG stūke, a shock, stump < IE *(s)teug- < base *(s)teu-, to strike > STOCK]

stool (stu:l) •n. 1 a) a single seat having three or four legs and no back or arms b) FOOTSTOOL 2 the inside ledge at the bottom of a window 3 a toilet, or water closet 4 the fecal matter eliminated in a single bowel movement 5 a) a root or tree stump sending out shoots b) a cluster of such shoots Æ 6 a) a perch to which a bird is fastened as a decoy for others b) a bird or other object used as a decoy •vi. 1 to put out shoots in the form of a stool Æ 2 [Colloq.] to act as a stool pigeon, or informer [ME < OE stol, akin to Ger stuhl < IE *stal- (> OSlav stolū, throne, seat) < base *sta-, to STAND]

stool pigeon 1 a pigeon or other bird used as a decoy 2 a person serving as a decoy 3 [Colloq.] a spy or informer, esp. for the police: also stool·ie (stu:l´i:) •n.

stoop labor work done by stooping, as in picking fruit from low-growing plants

stoop¹ (stu:p) •vi. 1 to bend the body forward or in a crouch 2 to carry the head and shoulders or the upper part of the body habitually bent forward 3 a) to condescend, or deign b) to demean or degrade oneself 4 to pounce or swoop down, as a bird of prey 5 [Archaic] to yield or submit •vt. 1 to bend (the head, etc.) forward 2 [Archaic] to humble or debase •n. 1 the act or position of stooping the body, esp. habitually 2 the act of condescending 3 a swoop, as by a hawk at prey stoop´er •n. stoop´ing·ly •adv. SYN.—stoop, in this connection, implies a descending in dignity, as by committing some shameful or immoral act [to stoop to cheating]; condescend implies a voluntary descent by one high in rank, power, etc. to act graciously or affably toward one regarded as his inferior [the general condescended to talk with the private]; deign is usually used in negative constructions or with such qualifications as hardly, barely, etc. and, hence, connotes unwilling or arrogant condescension [she scarcely deigned to answer me] [ME stupen < OE stupian, akin to ON stūpa < IE *(s)teup- < base *(s)teu-, to strike > STOCK]

stoop² (stu:p) •n. a small porch or platform with steps and, orig., seats, at the door of a house [Du stoep, akin to Ger stufe: for IE base see STEP]

stoopball (stu:p´böl') •n. a game based on baseball in which a rubber ball is thrown against a step, as of a STOOP², or wall and the rebounding ball is treated as a hit

stop (stäp) stopped, stop´ping •vt. I. to close by filling, shutting off, covering, etc. 1 to staunch (a cut, wound, etc.) 2 to block up (a passage, road, pipe, etc.) so as to make impassable; obstruct: often with up 3 to fill in, plug up, or cover (a hole, cavity, opening, mouth, etc.): often with up 4 to close (a bottle, jug, etc.) as with a cork or cap 5 a) to close (a finger hole of a wind instrument) so as to produce a desired tone b) to produce (a tone) in this way II. to cause to cease motion, activity, etc. 1 to prevent the passage or further passage of (water, light, etc.); block; intercept 2 to prevent the movement or further movement of; specif., a) to halt the progress of (a person, animal, vehicle, etc.) b) to check (a blow, stroke, or thrust); parry; counter c) to defeat (an opponent) d) to intercept (a letter, etc.) in transit e) to baffle; perplex; nonplus 3 to cease; desist from (with a gerund) {stop talking} 4 a) to cause to cease or end {stop that racket} b) to bring to an end; discontinue {to stop a subscription} c) to kill d) to defeat, as by knocking out 5 to cause (an engine, machine, etc.) to cease operation 6 to press down (a violin string, etc.) against the fingerboard to produce a desired tone 7 to place a stop order on (a stock or other security) 8 Bridge to hold key cards that will prevent an opponent from running (a suit) 9 [Chiefly Brit.] to insert punctuation marks in III. to keep from beginning, acting, happening, etc.; prevent 1 to keep (a person) from doing something contemplated 2 to prevent the starting, advent, etc. of; preclude 3 to notify one's bank to withhold payment on (one's check) •vi. 1 to cease moving, walking, proceeding, etc.; halt 2 to leave off doing something; desist from continuing 3 to cease operating or functioning 4 to be able to go no further; come to an end 5 to become clogged or choked 6 to tarry or stay for a while, esp. as a transient or guest: often with at or in •n. 1 a stopping or being stopped; check; arrest; cessation; halt; specif., a pause in speech or at the end of a sense unit in verse 2 a coming to an end; finish; end 3 a stay or sojourn 4 a place stopped at, as on a bus route 5 an indentation in the face of an animal, esp. a dog, between the forehead and the nose or muzzle 6 something that stops; obstruction; obstacle; specif., a) a plug or stopper b) STOP ORDER c) an order to withhold payment on a check d) a mechanical part that stops, limits, or regulates motion, as a pawl e) [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a punctuation mark, esp. a period 7 a) pressure, as of a finger, on a string of a violin, etc. to produce a desired tone b) a fret on a guitar, etc. 8 a) the closing of a finger hole of a wind instrument to produce a desired tone b) such a hole 9 a) a tuned set of organ pipes, reeds, or electronic devices of the same specific type and tone quality b) a pull, lever, or key for putting such a set or sets into or out of operation 10 Naut. a piece of line used to secure something 11 Phonet. a) the complete stopping of the outgoing breath, as with the lips, tongue, or velum b) a consonant formed in this way, as (p), (b), (t), (d), (k), and (g) (distinguished from CONTINUANT) 12 Photog. a) the aperture, usually adjustable, of a lens b) the f-number •adj. Æ that stops or is meant to stop {a stop signal} pull out all (the) stops 1 to play an organ with all the stops in operation 2 to apply maximum effort; use everything possible put a stop to to cause to cease; stop; end stop down to reduce the lens aperture by adjustment of the diaphragm Æ stop off to stop for a short stay en route to a place Æ stop out 1 to interrupt one's education as in order to work 2 to block out (areas not to be printed or painted) as of a silk-screen design Æ stop over 1 to visit for a while: also stop in (or by) 2 to break a journey, as for rest SYN.—stop implies a suspension or ending of some motion, action, or progress [my watch stopped]; cease implies a suspension or ending of some state or condition or of an existence [the war had ceased]; quit is equivalent to either stop or cease [to quit working means either to stop working, as for the day, or to cease working, i.e., to retire]; discontinue suggests the suspension of some action that is a habitual practice, an occupation, etc. [he has discontinued the practice of law]; desist implies a ceasing of some action that is annoying, harmful, futile, etc. [desist from further bickering] —ANT. begin, start, commence [ME stoppen < OE -stoppian (in comp.) < WGmc stoppōn < VL *stuppare, to stop up, stuff < L stuppa < Gr styppē, tow < IE *stewe-, to thicken, contract > Gr styphein, to contract, Sans stuka, tuft]

stop bath Photog. a weak solution of acetic acid used to stop development of photographic prints or film before fixing

stop order an order to a broker to buy or sell a certain stock when a specified price is reached

stop street a street on which all vehicles must come to a complete stop at a given intersection

stopbank (-bæŋk') •n. [Austral. & N.Z.] LEVEE¹ (sense 1)

stopcock (-käk') •n. a cock or valve for stopping or regulating the flow of a fluid, as through a pipe

stope (stoup) •n. a steplike excavation formed by the removal of ore from around a mine shaft •vt., vi. stoped, stop´ing to mine in stopes [< MLowG stōpe, akin to STEP]

stopgap (stäp´gæp') •n. a person or thing serving as a temporary substitute for another; makeshift •adj. used as a stopgap SYN. RESOURCE

stoplight (-lait') •n. 1 a traffic light, esp. when red (signaling vehicles to stop) 2 a light at the rear of a vehicle, that lights up when the brakes are applied; brake light

stopover (-ou'vэr) •n. 1 a brief stop or stay at a place in the course of a journey 2 a place for such a stop Also stop´-off'

stoppage (stäp´ij) •n. 1 a stopping or being stopped 2 an obstructed condition; block

Stoppard (stäp´эrd), Tom 1937- ; Brit. playwright, born in Czechoslovakia

stopper (stäp´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that stops or causes a stoppage 2 something inserted to close an opening; plug •vt. to close with a plug or stopper

stopple (stäp´эl) •n. a stopper, or plug •vt. -pled, -pling to close with a stopple [ME stoppel, dim. < stoppen, to STOP]

stopt (stäpt) •vt., vi. old poet. pt. & pp. of STOP

stop-time (stäp´taim') •n. Jazz a technique or effect in which the rhythm section stops playing for one or more beats each measure, usually for a chorus, while a soloist continues to play

stopwatch (stäp´wäch') •n. a watch with a hand or a digital readout that can be started and stopped instantly so as to indicate seconds or fractions of seconds, as for timing races

storage (stör´ij) •n. 1 a storing or being stored 2 a) a place or space for storing goods b) the cost of keeping goods stored 3 the charging of a storage battery so as to make possible the subsequent generation of electricity 4 Comput. MEMORY (sense 8); esp., memory of a disk, tape, etc.

storage battery a battery of electrochemical cells (secondary cells) for generating electric current: the cells can be recharged by passing a current through them in the direction opposite to the discharging flow of current

storax (stör´æks) •n. 1 the aromatic balsam exuded by liquidambar trees, used in medicine and perfumery 2 a fragrant, solid resin obtained from a small, E Mediterranean tree (Styrax officinalis) of the storax family, formerly used as incense 3 any of a genus (Styrax) of chiefly tropical trees and shrubs of the storax family, with drooping clusters of showy white flowers •adj. designating a family (Styracaceae, order Ebenales) of widely distributed dicotyledonous trees or shrubs, as the snowbell [ME < L storax, styrax < Gr styrax, of Sem orig., as in Heb tsori, terebinth resin]

store (stör) stored, stor´ing •vt. 1 to put aside, or accumulate, for use when needed 2 to fill or furnish with a supply or stock {a mind stored with trivia} 3 to put, as in a warehouse, for safekeeping 4 to be a place for the storage of 5 to put or keep (information) in a computer memory •vi. to undergo storage in a specified manner •n. [ME < OFr estor < the v.] 1 a supply (of something) for use when needed; reserve; stock 2 [pl.] supplies, esp. of food, clothing, arms, etc. Æ 3 a retail establishment where goods are regularly offered for sale 4 a place where supplies are kept; storehouse; warehouse 5 a great amount or number; abundance •adj. of a kind sold in stores; being a commercial or mass-produced article in store set aside for, or awaiting one in, the future; in reserve or in prospect Æ mind the store to tend to business set (or put or lay) store by to have regard or esteem for; value stor´a·ble •adj. [ME storen < OFr estorer, to erect, furnish, store < L instaurare, to repair, restore, erect < in-, IN-¹ + -staurare < IE base *stā-, to STAND]

storefront (-frûnt') •n. 1 the front of a store 2 a room at the ground front of a building, usually with display windows, designed for use as a retail store •adj. housed in or as in a storefront {a storefront church}

storehouse (-haus') •n. a place where things are stored; esp., a warehouse

storekeeper (-ki:'pэr) •n. 1 a person in charge of stores, esp. military or naval stores Æ 2 a retail merchant

storeroom (-ru:m') •n. a room where things are stored

storewide (-waid') •adj. throughout a store, including many or all departments {a storewide sale}

storey (stör´i:) pl. -reys •n. Brit., etc. sp. of STORY²

storied¹ (stör´i:d) •adj. 1 ornamented with designs showing scenes from history, a story, etc. 2 famous in story or history

storied² (stör´i:d) •adj. having stories, or floors: usually in hyphenated compounds {many-storied}

stork (störk) pl. storks •n.or stork any of a family (Ciconiidae) of large, long-legged, mostly Old World wading birds having a long neck and bill; esp., the European white stork (Ciconia ciconia) that nests on rooftops and in trees: a symbol of childbirth, from the notion perpetrated in euphemistic tales to children that it brings newborn babies [ME < OE storc, akin to Ger storch < IE *sterg- < base *(s)ter-, stiff > STARE: so named from its stiff-legged walk]

stork's-bill (störks´bil') •n. any of various geraniums with beak-shaped fruit, as a pelargonium or heronsbill

storm (störm) •n. 1 an atmospheric disturbance characterized by a strong wind, usually accompanied by rain, snow, sleet, or hail, and, often, thunder and lightning 2 any heavy fall of snow, rain, or hail 3 anything resembling a storm; specif., a) a heavy shower or volley of things {a storm of bullets} b) a strong outburst of emotion, passion, excitement, etc. c) a strong disturbance or upheaval of a political or social nature d) a sudden, strong attack on a fortified place 4 Meteorol. a wind whose speed is 64 to 72 miles per hour: see BEAUFORT SCALE •vi. 1 to be stormy; blow violently, rain, snow, etc. 2 to be violently angry; rage; rant 3 to rush or move violently and tumultuously {to storm into a room} •vt. 1 to attack or direct something at (someone) in a vigorous or angry outburst {to storm a speaker with questions} 2 to capture or attempt to capture (a fortified place) with a sudden, strong attack SYN. ATTACK [ME < OE, akin to Ger sturm < IE base *(s)twer-, to whirl, move or turn quickly > STIR¹, L turbare, to agitate]

storm cellar CYCLONE CELLAR

storm center 1 the shifting center of a cyclone, an area of lowest barometric pressure and comparative calm 2 a center or focus of trouble, turmoil, or disturbance

storm door a door placed outside a regular entrance door as added protection against winter weather

storm petrel any of a family (Hydrobatidae) of petrels; esp., a black-and-white species (Hydrobates pelagicus) of the N Atlantic and the Mediterranean

storm trooper a member of Hitler's Nazi party militia, notorious for their brutal and terroristic methods

storm window a window placed outside a regular window as protection against winter weather Also storm sash

stormbound (störm´baund') •adj. halted, delayed, or cut off by storms

stormproof (-pru:f') •adj. 1 that can withstand a storm 2 giving protection against storms

stormy (stör´mi:) storm´i·er, storm´i·est •adj. 1 of, characteristic of, or affected by storms 2 having or characterized by storms 3 violent, raging, turbulent, etc. storm´i·ly •adv. storm´i·ness •n. [ME stormi < OE stormig]

stormy petrel STORM PETREL

Story (stör´i:), Joseph 1779-1845; U.S. jurist: associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court (1811-45)

story line STORY¹ (n. 4)

story¹ (stör´i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 the telling of a happening or connected series of happenings, whether true or fictitious; account; narration 2 an anecdote or joke 3 a) a fictitious literary composition in prose or poetry, shorter than a novel; narrative; tale; specif., SHORT STORY b) the form of literature represented by such compositions 4 the plot of a novel, play, film, etc. 5 a) a report or rumor b) [Colloq.] a falsehood or fib 6 romantic legend or history Æ 7 a news event or a report of it •vt. -ried, -ry·ing 1 [Archaic] to tell the story of 2 to decorate with paintings, etc. representing scenes from history or legend SYN.—story, the broadest in scope of these words, refers to a series of connected events, true or fictitious, that is written or told with the intention of entertaining or informing; narrative is a more formal word, referring to the kind of prose that recounts happenings; tale, a somewhat elevated or literary term, usually suggests a simple, leisurely story, more or less loosely organized, especially a fictitious or legendary one; anecdote applies to a short, entertaining account of a single incident, usually personal or biographical [ME storie < OFr estoire < L historia: see HISTORY]

story² (stör´i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 a section or horizontal division of a building, extending from the floor to the ceiling or roof lying directly above it; floor {a hotel ten stories high} 2 all the rooms on the same level of a building 3 any horizontal section or division [ME < ML historia, a picture (< L: see HISTORY): prob. from use of storied windows or friezes marking the outside of different floors]

storyboard (stör´i: börd') •n. 1 a large board on which a series of sketches of shots or scenes are arranged in sequence for outlining the action of a film, video, etc. 2 such a series of sketches, often accompanied with captions containing dialogue, narrations, etc. •vt. to make a storyboard of (a shot or scene) for (a film, video, etc.)

storybook (-buk') •n. a book of stories, esp. one for children •adj. typical of romantic tales in storybooks {storybook ending}

storyteller (-tel'эr) •n. 1 a person who narrates stories 2 [Colloq.] a fibber or liar sto´ry·tell'ing •n.

stoss (stäs, stös; Ger shtous) •adj. facing or located in the direction from which a glacier moves Opposed to LEE [Ger < stossen, to push < OHG stozan < IE base *(s)teu-, to push, beat > STOCK, L tundere, to strike]

stotinka (stö tiŋ´kэ) pl. -tin´ki (-ki:) •n. a monetary unit of Bulgaria, equal to ¹/100 lev [Bulg]

St-Ouen (sæñ twäñ´) city in NC France, on the Seine: suburb of Paris: pop. 52,000

stound (staund) •n. [Now Brit. Dial] 1 a short time 2 a pain or pang; shock •vi. [Scot. or North Eng.] to ache or pain [ME stunde < OE stund, akin to Ger stunde, ON stund, hour, while: for IE base see STAND]

stoup (stu:p) •n. 1 [Now Scot. or North Eng.] a drinking cup; tankard 2 [Now Scot.] a pail or bucket 3 FONT¹ (sense 1b) [ME stowpe, bucket < ON staup: for IE base see STEEP¹]

stour (stu:r) •n. [Now Chiefly Dial.] 1 combat or conflict 2 turmoil 3 a storm 4 wind-blown dust [ME stoure < OFr estour < OHG sturm, STORM]

stout (staut) •adj. 1 courageous; brave; undaunted 2 a) strong in body; sturdy b) strong in construction; firm; substantial {a stout wall} 3 powerful; forceful 4 fat; thickset; corpulent •n. 1 a fat person 2 a garment in a size for a fat man 3 a dark-brown beer like porter, but heavier and sweeter and containing a higher percentage of hops stout´ish •adj. stout´ly •adv. stout´ness •n. [ME < OFr estout, bold, prob. < Frank stolt, proud, bold, akin to MDu stelte, STILT]

stouthearted (-här'tid) •adj. courageous; brave; undaunted stout´heart'ed·ly •adv. stout´heart'ed·ness •n.

stove¹ (stouv) •n. 1 an apparatus using fuel or electricity for heating a room, for cooking, etc. 2 any heated chamber or room, as a kiln for drying manufactured articles [ME < MDu, heated room, akin to Ger stube, sitting room, OE stofa, hot air bath < early borrowing < VL *extufa, back-form. < *extufare, to steam, STEW¹]

stove² (stouv) •vt., vi. alt. pt. & pp. of STAVE

stovepipe (stouv´paip') •n. 1 a metal pipe used to carry off smoke or fumes from a stove, as into a chimney flue Æ 2 [Colloq.] a man's tall silk hat: in full stovepipe hat

stover (stou´vэr) •n. Æ 1 cured stalks of grain, without the ears, used as fodder for animals 2 [Brit. Dial.] any fodder [ME, aphetic < OFr estover: see ESTOVERS]

stow (stou) •vt. 1 to pack or store away; esp., to pack in an orderly, compact way 2 to fill by packing in an orderly way 3 to hold or receive: said of a room, container, etc. 4 [Obs.] to provide lodging for 5 [Slang] to stop; cease {stow the chatter!} stow away 1 to put or hide away, as in a safe place 2 to be a stowaway 3 to consume (food or drink), esp. in large amounts [ME stowen < stowe, a place < OE < IE base *stā-, to STAND]

stowage (-ij) •n. 1 a stowing or being stowed 2 place for stowing 3 something stowed 4 charges for stowing

stowaway (-э wei') •n. a person who hides aboard a ship, airplane, etc. to get free passage, evade port officials, etc.

Stowe (stou), Harriet (Elizabeth) Beecher 1811-96; U.S. novelist: sister of Henry Ward Beecher

STP standard temperature and pressure; NTP

St-Pierre (sæñ pyeř´) town in NW Martinique, West Indies, on the site of a city destroyed (1902) by eruption of Mont Pelée: pop. 6,000

str 1 steamer 2 Music string(s)

strabismus (strэ biz´mэs) •n. a disorder of the muscles of the eyes, as cross-eye, in which both eyes cannot be focused on the same point at the same time stra·bis´mal or stra·bis´mic •adj. stra·bis´mal·ly •adv. [ModL < Gr strabismos < strabizein, to squint < strabos, twisted < IE *streb- < base *(s)ter-, stiff, taut > START, STARE]

Strabo (strei´bou) c. 63 B.C.-c. A.D. 21; Gr. geographer

Strachey (strei´chi:), (Giles) Lyt·ton (lit´ªn) 1880-1932; Eng. biographer

Strad (stræd) •n. short for STRADIVARIUS

straddle (stræd´ªl) -dled, -dling •vt. 1 to place oneself with a leg on either side of; stand or sit astride of 2 to spread (the legs) wide apart Æ 3 to take or appear to take both sides of (an issue); avoid committing oneself on •vi. 1 to sit, stand, or walk with the legs wide apart 2 to be spread apart: said of the legs Æ 3 to straddle an issue, argument, etc.; refuse to commit oneself; hedge •n. 1 the act or position of straddling 2 the distance straddled Æ 3 a refusal to commit oneself definitely to either side of an issue, argument, etc. Æ 4 in securities and commodities trading, the holding of two options, a put and a call, as on the same stock, each option having the same specified price and expiration date: a straddle allows an investor to profit from, or protect against, swings in the price of the stock 5 a salvo of artillery rounds, in which some fall on opposite sides of the target, indicating a hit on or near the target strad´dler (-lэr) •n. [freq. of STRIDE]

Stradivari (střä'di: vä´ři:), An·to·nio (än tô´nyô) (L. name Antonius Stradivarius) 1644-1737; It. violin maker

Stradivarius (stræd'э ver´i: эs) •n. a string instrument, esp. a violin, made by A. Stradivari or his sons

strafe (streif; chiefly Brit, sträf) strafed, straf´ing •vt. to attack with gunfire; esp., to attack (ground positions, troops, etc.) with machine-gun fire from low-flying aircraft straf´er •n. [< Ger phr. Gott strafe England (God punish England) used in World War I]

Strafford (stræf´эrd), 1st Earl of (Thomas Wentworth) 1593-1641; Eng. statesman: advisor of Charles I: beheaded

straggle (stræg´эl) -gled, -gling •vi. 1 to stray from the path or course, or wander from the main group 2 to wander or be scattered over a wide area; ramble 3 to leave, arrive, or occur at irregular intervals 4 to hang in a disheveled manner, as hair, clothes, etc. •n. a straggly group strag´gler •n. [ME straglen, prob. for *straklen, freq. of straken, to go about, wander, roam]

straggly (-li:) -gli·er, -gli·est •adj. spread out in a straggling, irregular way

straight (streit) •adj. 1 having the same direction throughout its length; having no curvature or angularity {a straight line} 2 not crooked, bent, bowed, wavy, curly, etc. {straight hair} 3 upright; erect {straight posture} 4 level; even {a straight hemline} 5 with all cylinders in a direct line; in-line: said of some internal-combustion engines 6 direct; undeviating, uninterrupted, etc. {to hold a straight course} Æ 7 following strictly the principles, slate of candidates, etc. of a political party {to vote a straight ticket} 8 following a direct or systematic course of reasoning, etc.; methodical; accurate 9 in order; properly arranged, etc. {to put a room straight} 10 a) honest; sincere; upright b) reliable; factual {straight information} 11 outspoken; frank Æ 12 a) without anything added or mixed in; undiluted {a straight shot of whiskey} b) not blended with neutral grain spirits 13 not qualified, modified, slanted, etc. {a straight denial} Æ 14 at a fixed price per unit regardless of the quantity bought or sold {apples at ten cents straight} Æ 15 [Slang] a) normal or conventional, as in one's lifestyle; also, SQUARE (adj. 12) b) HETEROSEXUAL c) not using drugs, alcohol, etc. •adv. 1 in a straight line or direction; unswervingly 2 upright; erectly 3 a) without detour, delay, etc. {go straight to bed} b) without equivocation, circumlocution, etc.; directly {tell it straight} c) without alteration, addition, etc. {play the role straight} 4 in an honest, law-abiding manner {go straight} •n. 1 the quality or condition of being straight 2 something straight; specif., a) the straight part of a racetrack between the last turn and the winning post Æ b) Poker a hand consisting of any five cards in sequence: it ranks just above three of a kind and below a flush 3 [Slang] a) a straight, or conventional, person b) a HETEROSEXUAL straight away (or off) at once; without delay the straight and narrow (path) a morally strict code of behavior straight´ly •adv. straight´ness •n. [ME streght, pp. of strecchen, to STRETCH]

straight angle an angle of 180 degrees: see ANGLE¹, illus.

straight arrow [Slang] a person who is straight-arrow

straight chain Chem. a chain of atoms, usually carbon, without any branches: see OPEN CHAIN

straight chair a chair with a back that is straight, or almost vertical, and not upholstered

straight face a facial expression showing no amusement or other emotion straight´-faced' (-feist') •adj.

straight flush Poker a flush in which all five cards are in sequence: it is the highest hand, ranking just above four of a kind

straight man an actor who serves as a foil for, and feeds lines to, a comedian

straight razor a razor with a long, unguarded blade that can be folded into the handle

straight time 1 the number of working hours fixed as a standard for a given work period 2 the rate of pay for work during these hours

straight-ahead (-э hed´) •adj. 1 not complex; straightforward; uncomplicated 2 Jazz designating or of a style of playing strongly influenced by bop and unadulterated by elements of rock, pop, etc.

straight-arm (-ärm') •vt. to push away (an opponent, as a would-be tackler in football) with the arm outstretched •n. the act of straight-arming

straight-arrow (-ær'ou, -er'ou) •adj. [Slang] proper, righteous, conscientious, etc.: often used with connotations of conservatism, stodginess, dullness, or the like

straightaway (-э wei') •adj. extending in a straight line •n. 1 a racetrack, or part of a track, that extends in a straight line 2 a straight and level stretch of highway •adv. at once; without delay

straightedge (-ej') •n. a piece or strip of wood, etc. having a perfectly straight edge used in drawing straight lines, testing plane surfaces, etc.

straighten (-ªn) •vt., vi. to make or become straight straighten out 1 to make or become less confused, easier to deal with, etc. Æ 2 to make or become more correct or moral in behavior; reform straight´en·er •n.

straightforward (streit´för´wэrd) •adj. 1 moving or leading straight ahead; direct 2 a) honest; frank; open b) not ambiguous or obscure; clear {a straightforward explanation} •adv. in a straightforward manner; directly; openly: also straight´for´wards straight´for´ward·ly •adv. straight´for´ward·ness •n.

straightjacket (streit´jæk'it) •n. STRAITJACKET

straight-laced (-leist') •adj. STRAIT-LACED (sense 2)

straight-line (-lain') •adj. 1 composed of straight lines 2 Finance designating or of a method of allocating costs to given time periods at a fixed rate {straight-line depreciation} 3 Mech. a) designating or of a device, mechanism, etc. whose main parts are positioned or move in a straight line b) designating a device designed to transmit or cause motion in a straight line

straight-out (-aut´) •adj. [Colloq.] 1 straightforward; direct 2 unrestrained Æ 3 thoroughgoing; unqualified

straightway (-wei') •adv. [Archaic] at once; without delay

strain¹ (strein) •vt. 1 to draw or stretch tight 2 to exert, use, or tax to the utmost {to strain every nerve} 3 to overtax; injure by overexertion; wrench {to strain a muscle} 4 to injure or weaken by force, pressure, etc. {the wind strained the roof} 5 to stretch or force beyond the normal, customary, or legitimate limits {to strain a rule to one's own advantage} 6 to change the form or size of, by applying external force 7 a) to pass through a screen, sieve, filter, etc.; filter b) to remove or free by filtration, etc. 8 to hug or embrace: now only in strain to one's bosom (or heart, etc.) 9 [Obs.] to force; constrain •vi. 1 to make violent or continual efforts; strive hard 2 to be or become strained 3 to be subjected to great stress or pressure 4 to pull or push with force 5 to filter, ooze, or trickle 6 to hesitate or be unwilling; balk (at) [from a misunderstanding of strain at a gnat (Matt. 23:24)] •n. 1 a straining or being strained 2 great effort, exertion, or tension 3 an injury to a part of the body as a result of great effort or overexertion {muscle strain} 4 a) change in form or size, or both, resulting from stress or force b) stress or force 5 a great or excessive demand on one's emotions, resources, etc. {a strain on the imagination} [ME streinen < OFr estraindre, to strain, wring hard < L stringere, to draw tight: see STRICT]

strain² (strein) •n. 1 orig., a) a begetting b) offspring 2 ancestry; lineage; descent 3 the descendants of a common ancestor; race; stock; line; breed; variety 4 a line of individuals of a certain species or race, differentiated from the main group by certain, generally superior qualities, esp. as the result of artificial breeding 5 an inherited or natural characteristic or tendency 6 a trace; streak 7 the manner, style, or tone of a speech, book, action, etc. {to write in an angry strain} 8 [often pl.] a passage of music; tune; air 9 a passage of poetry, esp. of a lyric sort 10 a flight or outburst of eloquence, profanity, etc. [ME stren < OE streon, gain, procreation, stock, race < base strynan, streonan, to produce: for IE base see STREW]

strained (streind) •adj. not natural or relaxed; forced

strainer (strein´эr) •n. a person or thing that strains; specif., a device for straining, sifting, or filtering; sieve, filter, colander, etc.

straining piece (strein´iŋ) a horizontal brace or beam connected at either end to opposite rafters in a roof truss: also straining beam

strait (streit) •adj. 1 [Archaic] restricted or constricted; narrow; tight; confined 2 [Archaic] strict; rigid; exacting 3 [Now Rare] straitened; difficult; distressing •n. 1 [Rare] a narrow passage 2 [often pl.] a narrow waterway connecting two large bodies of water 3 [usually pl.] difficulty; distress 4 [Rare] an isthmus SYN. EMERGENCY [ME streit < OFr estreit < L strictus: see STRICT]

straiten (streit´ªn) •vt. 1 [Now Rare] a) to make strait or narrow b) to hem in closely c) to restrict or confine in scope, range, etc.; hamper 2 to bring into difficulties; cause to be in distress or want: usually in the phrase in straitened circumstances, lacking sufficient money

straitjacket (streit´jæk'it) •n. a coatlike device that binds the arms tight against the body: used to restrain persons in a violent state

strait-laced (-leist´) •adj. 1 [Archaic] a) tightly laced, as a corset b) wearing tightly laced garments 2 narrowly strict or severe in behavior or moral views

Straits Settlements former British crown colony in SE Asia, comprising Singapore, Malacca, Penang, Labuan, Christmas Island, & the Cocos Islands

strake (streik) •n. a single line of planking or metal plating extending along the hull of a ship or boat from stem to stern [ME, akin to strecchen, to STRETCH]

stramonium (strэ mou´ni: эm) •n. 1 JIMSON WEED 2 the dried leaves and flowering top of this plant, formerly used in medicine as an antispasmodic [ModL]

strand line a shoreline, esp. a former one from which the water has receded

strand¹ (strænd) •n. land at the edge of a body of water; shore, esp. ocean shore •vt., vi. 1 to run or drive aground {a ship stranded by the storm} 2 to leave in, or be put into, a difficult, helpless position {stranded penniless in a strange city} SYN. SHORE¹ [ME < OE, akin to ON strond, Ger strand, prob. < IE base *ster-, to extend, stretch out > STREW]

strand² (strænd) •n. 1 a) any one of the threads, fibers, wires, etc. that are twisted together to form a length of string, rope, or cable b) any of the individual bundles of thread or fiber so twisted together 2 a ropelike length of anything {a strand of pearls, a strand of hair} 3 any of the parts that are bound together to form a whole {the strands of one's life} •vt. 1 to form (rope, etc.) by twisting together strands 2 to break a strand or strands of (a rope, etc.) strand´er •n. [ME stronde < ?]

strange (streinj) strang´er, strang´est •adj. 1 of another place or locality; foreign; alien 2 not previously known, seen, heard, or experienced; unfamiliar 3 quite unusual or uncommon; extraordinary 4 queer; peculiar; odd 5 reserved, distant, or cold in manner 6 lacking experience; unaccustomed {strange to the job} •adv. in a strange manner strange´ly •adv. SYN.—strange, the term of broadest application here, refers to that which is unfamiliar, as because of being uncommon, unknown, new, etc. [a strange voice, idea, device, etc.]; peculiar applies either to that which puzzles or to that which has unique qualities [a peculiar smell, pattern, etc.]; odd suggests that which differs from the ordinary or conventional, sometimes to the point of being bizarre [odd behavior]; queer emphasizes an element of eccentricity, abnormality, or suspicion [a queer facial expression]; quaint suggests an oddness, esp. an antique quality, that is pleasing or appealing [a quaint costume]; outlandish suggests an oddness that is decidedly, often outrageously, fantastic or bizarre [outlandish customs] —ANT. familiar, ordinary [ME < OFr estrange < L extraneus, EXTRANEOUS]

strangeness (-nis) •n. 1 the state or quality of being strange 2 a not yet identified property of elementary particles, described by a quantum number and introduced to explain the absence or long lifetimes of certain types of radioactive decay among these particles

stranger (strein´jэr) •n. 1 an outsider, newcomer, or foreigner 2 [Now Rare] a guest or visitor 3 a person not known or familiar to one; person who is not an acquaintance 4 a person unaccustomed (to something specified); novice {a stranger to hate} 5 Law a person who is not party (to an act, agreement, title, etc.) SYN. ALIEN [ME < MFr estranger < OFr estrange: see STRANGE]

strangle (stræŋ´gэl) -gled, -gling •vt. 1 to kill by squeezing the throat as with the hands, a noose, etc., so as to shut off the breath; throttle; choke 2 to suffocate or choke in any manner 3 to suppress, stifle, or repress {free speech strangled by tyranny} •vi. to be strangled stran´gler •n. [ME stranglen < OFr estrangler < L strangulare < Gr strangalan < strangalē, halter < strangos, twisted: see STRONG]

stranglehold (-hould') •n. 1 an illegal wrestling hold that chokes off an opponent's breath 2 any force or action that restricts or suppresses freedom

strangles (-gэlz) •n. a disease of young horses caused by a bacterial infection (Streptococcus equi) and characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and by the formation of abscesses in the adjacent lymph nodes

strangulate (stræŋ´gyэ leit') -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vt. 1 STRANGLE 2 Med. to constrict (a tube, herniated organ, etc.) so as to cut off a flow, esp. so as to cut off circulation of the blood •vi. Med. to become constricted stran'gu·la´tion •n. [< L strangulatus, pp. of strangulare]

strangury (stræŋ´gyэ ri:) •n. slow and painful urination, drop by drop [ME < L stranguria < Gr strangouria < stranx (gen. strangos), a drop, akin to strangos, twisted (see STRONG) + ouron, URINE]

strap (stræp) •n. 1 a narrow strip or band of leather or other flexible material, often with a buckle or similar fastener at one end, for binding or securing things 2 any flat, narrow piece, as of metal, used as a fastening 3 any of several straplike parts or things, as a shoulder strap, a loop for pulling on boots, a razor strop, etc. •vt. strapped, strap´ping 1 to fasten with a strap 2 to beat with a strap 3 to strop (a razor) [dial. form of STROP]

strap hinge a hinge with long, usually triangular, parts by which it is fastened: see HINGE, illus.

straphanger (-hæŋ'эr) •n. [Colloq.] a standing passenger, as on a crowded bus or subway car, who holds onto a hanging strap or the like for support

strapless (-lis) •adj. having no strap or straps; specif., having no shoulder straps {a strapless bra}

strappado (strэ pei´dou, -pä´-) pl. -does •n. 1 a former kind of torture in which the victim was lifted in the air by a rope fastened to the wrists, then suddenly dropped part way to the ground 2 the instrument used in this torture [It strappata < strappare, to pull < Gmc, as in Ger dial. (Swiss) strapfen, to pull tight (akin to Ger strafen, to punish) < IE *strep- < base *(s)ter-, stiff > STARE]

strapped (stræpt) •adj. [Colloq.] in great need of money [pp. of STRAP]

strapper (stræp´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that straps 2 [Colloq.] a strapping person

strapping (-iŋ) •adj. [Colloq.] tall and well-built; robust [prp. of STRAP, used (like thumping, whopping, expressing violent action) to denote large size]

Strasbourg (stræs´børg; Fr střåz bu:ř´) city & port in NE France, on the Rhine: pop. 252,000

strass (stræs) •n. PASTE (n. 7a) [Fr & Ger < ?: said to be after J. Strass (or Strasser), Ger jeweler]

strata (streit´э, stræt´-) •n. alt. pl. of STRATUM

stratagem (stræt´э jэm) •n. 1 a trick, scheme, or plan for deceiving an enemy in war 2 any trick or scheme for achieving some purpose SYN. TRICK [LME stratageme < L strategema < Gr stratēgēma, device or act of a general < stratēgos, a general < stratos, army (for IE base see STREW) + agein, to lead: see ACT]

stratal (streit´ªl) •adj. of a stratum or strata

strategic (strэ ti:´jik) •adj. 1 of or having to do with strategy 2 characterized by sound strategy; favorable; advantageous 3 a) essential to effective military strategy Æ b) operating or designed to operate directly against the military, industrial, etc. installations of an enemy {the Strategic Air Command} 4 required for the effective conduct of a war {strategic materials} Also stra·te´gi·cal stra·te´gi·cal·ly •adv.

strategist (stræt´э jist) •n. one using strategy; esp., one skilled in strategy

strategize (-jaiz') -gized', -giz'ing •vi. to plan a strategy or strategies

strategy (-ji:) pl. -gies •n. 1 a) the science of planning and directing large-scale military operations, specif. (as distinguished from TACTICS) of maneuvering forces into the most advantageous position prior to actual engagement with the enemy b) a plan or action based on this 2 a) skill in managing or planning, esp. by using stratagems b) a stratagem or artful means to some end Also, esp. for sense 1, stra·te·gics (strэ ti:´jiks) •n.pl. [Fr stratégie < Gr stratēgia, generalship < stratēgos: see STRATAGEM]

Stratford (stræt´fэrd) town in SW Conn., on Long Island Sound: suburb of Bridgeport: pop. 49,000 [after fol.]

Stratford-on-Avon (-än ei´vän) town in S Warwickshire, England, on the Avon River: birthplace & burial place of Shakespeare: pop. 25,000: also Strat´ford-up·on-A´von

strath (stræθ) •n. a wide river valley [< Gael srath]

Strathclyde (stræθ klaid´) region of SW Scotland, on the Firth of Clyde, including the former counties of Ayr, Lanark, Renfrew, and most of Dunbarton & Argyll: 5,348 sq. mi. (13,856 sq. km); pop. 2,373,000; cap. Glasgow

strathspey (stræθ spei´) •n. 1 a Scottish dance resembling, but slower than, the reel 2 the music for this [after Strathspey, valley of Spey River, N Scotland: see STRATH]

stratification (stræt'э fi kei´shэn) •n. 1 the process of stratifying or the state of being stratified 2 a stratified arrangement or appearance 3 Geol. a structure characterized by a succession of tabular layers, beds, strata, etc.

stratificational grammar (-эl) a system of grammar that analyzes language as systems of strata, including phonemic, morphemic, lexemic, and semantic strata

stratiform (stræt´э förm') •adj. having the form of a stratum; showing stratification [< STRATUM + -FORM]

stratify (-fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 to form or arrange in layers or strata 2 to preserve (seeds) by placing them between layers of moisture-retaining soil, peat moss, etc. 3 to classify or separate (people) into groups graded according to status as variously determined by birth, income, education, etc. •vi. to become stratified [Fr stratifier < ModL stratificare < L stratum, layer + facere, to make: see STRATUM & DO¹]

stratigraphy (strэ tig´rэ fi:) •n. 1 the arrangement of rocks in layers or strata 2 the branch of geology dealing with the study of the nature, distribution, and relations of the stratified rocks of the earth's crust stra·tig´ra·pher •n. strat·i·graph·ic (stræt'э græf´ik) •adj. strat'i·graph´i·cal·ly •adv. [< STRATUM + -GRAPHY]

stratocracy (strэ täk´rэ si:) pl. -cies •n. government by the military [< Gr stratos (see STRATAGEM) + -CRACY]

stratocumulus (streit'ou kyu:m´yэ lэs, stræt'-) pl. -li' (-lai') •n. the type of white or gray cloud found at low altitudes and consisting of large, smooth or patchy layers of water droplets and possibly some hail or snow See CLOUD [ModL: see STRATUS & CUMULUS]

stratopause (stræt´э päz) •n. an atmospheric transition zone or shell, located between the stratosphere and the mesosphere at an altitude of c. 50 to 55 km (c. 31 to 34 mi.), in which temperatures begin to drop with increasing altitude

stratosphere (stræt´э sfir') •n. the atmospheric zone or shell located above the tropopause at an altitude of c. 20 to 50 km (c. 12 to 31 mi.) and characterized by an increase in temperature with increasing altitude strat'o·spher´ic (-sfer´ik, -sfir´-) •adj. [Fr stratosphère < ModL stratum, STRATUM + Fr sphère, SPHERE]

stratum (streit´эm, stræt´-) pl. stra´ta (-э) or -tums •n. 1 a horizontal layer or section of material, esp. any of several lying one upon another; specif., a) Biol. a layer of tissue b) Geol. a single layer of sedimentary rock 2 a section, level, or division, as of the atmosphere or ocean, regarded as like a stratum 3 any of the socioeconomic groups of a society as determined by birth, income, education, etc. [ModL < L, a covering, blanket < stratus, pp. of sternere, to spread, stretch out, cover: for IE base see STREW]

stratus (-эs) pl. stra´ti (-ai) •n. the type of gray cloud found at low altitudes and consisting of a uniform layer of water droplets and sometimes ice crystals: see CLOUD, illus. [L, a strewing: see STRATUM]

Straus (straus; Ger shtřaus), Oscar (or Oskar) 1870-1954; Fr. composer, born in Austria

Strauss (shtřaus; E straus) 1 Jo·hann (you´hän) 1825-99; Austrian composer, esp. of waltzes 2 Rich·ard (řiH´äřt) 1864-1949; Ger. composer & conductor

stravage (strэ veig´) -vaged´, -vag´ing •vi. [Scot., Irish, or North Eng.] to wander about aimlessly; roam Also sp. stra·vaig´ [aphetic contr. < ML extravagari, to stray: see EXTRAVAGANT]

Stravinsky (strэ vin´ski:; Russ střå vi:n´ski), I·gor (Feodorovich) (i:´gör) 1882-1971; U.S. composer & conductor, born in Russia

straw (strö) •n. 1 hollow stalks or stems of grain after threshing, collectively: used for fodder, for bedding, for making hats, etc. 2 a single one of such stalks 3 such a stalk or, now esp., a tube of waxed paper, plastic, etc., used for sucking beverages 4 something, as a hat, made of straw 5 something of little or no value; worthless trifle 6 short for STRAW MAN (sense 4) •adj. 1 straw-colored; yellowish 2 made of straw 3 of little or no value or significance; worthless; meaningless a straw in the wind an indication of what may happen grasp (or clutch or catch) at a straw (or straws) to try any measure, however unlikely, that offers even the least hope straw´y •adj. [ME stra < OE streaw, akin to streawian: see STREW]

straw boss [Colloq.] 1 a person having subordinate authority, as a foreman's assistant 2 a supervisor who has little or no authority to support his orders

straw color a pale-yellow color straw´-col'ored •adj.

straw man 1 SCARECROW 2 a person of little importance; nonentity 3 a weak argument or opposing view set up by a politician, debater, etc. so that he may attack it and gain an easy, showy victory 4 a person used to disguise another's intentions, activities, etc.; blind

straw vote (or poll) an unofficial vote or poll taken to determine general group opinion on a given issue

straw wine a sweet, rich wine made from grapes that have been dried in the sun, as on a bed of straw

strawberry (-ber'i:, -bэr i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 the small, red, fleshy accessory fruit of a stolon-bearing plant (genus Fragaria) of the rose family 2 this plant [ME strawberi < OE streawberie < streaw, straw + berige, berry: prob. from the small achenes on the fruit]

strawberry blond reddish blond

strawberry bush an E American euonymus (Euonymus americana) with red pods and seeds with a red covering

strawberry mark a small, red birthmark

strawberry roan reddish roan

strawberry shrub CAROLINA ALLSPICE

strawberry tomato a ground-cherry, esp. an E American species (Physalis pruinosa) with a small, edible, yellow fruit

strawberry tree 1 a European evergreen tree (Arbutus unedo) of the heath family, with small, white flowers and red, berrylike fruit Æ 2 STRAWBERRY BUSH

strawboard (strö´börd') •n. a coarse cardboard made of straw and used in making boxes, etc.

strawflower (-flau'эr) •n. an annual Australian plant (Helichrysum bracteatum) of the composite family, whose brightly colored flower heads are dried for winter bouquets

straw-hat (-hæt´) •adj. designating, of, or having to do with a summer theater or summer theaters [from the practice, esp. formerly, of wearing straw hats in summer]

strawworm (-wørm') •n. any of several hymenopteran insect larvae (family Eurytomidae) which damage the stalks of grain

stray (strei) •vi. 1 to wander from a given place, limited area, direct course, etc., esp. aimlessly; roam; rove 2 to go wrong; be in error; deviate (from what is right) 3 to fail to concentrate; be inattentive or digress •n. 1 a person or thing that strays; esp., a domestic animal wandering at large 2 [usually pl.] static interfering with radio reception •adj. 1 having strayed or wandered; lost 2 occurring alone or infrequently; isolated; incidental {a few stray words} stray´er •n. [ME straien < OFr estraier < estrée, road, street < LL strata, STREET]

streak (stri:k) •n. 1 a line or long, thin mark; stripe or smear, generally differing in color or texture from the surrounding area 2 a ray of light or a flash, as of lightning 3 a vein or stratum of a mineral 4 a layer, as of fat in meat 5 a strain, element, or tendency in behavior, temperament, etc.; trait {a jealous streak} Æ 6 a period, spell, or series {a streak of bad luck, a streak of losses} 7 Bacteriology an inoculum placed, as in a line, on a solid culture medium 8 Mineralogy a colored line of powder produced by rubbing a mineral over a hard, white surface (streak plate): it serves as a distinguishing character •vt. to make streaks on or in; mark with streaks •vi. 1 to form streaks; become streaked 2 to move at high speed; go fast; hurry Æ 3 to engage in the prank of dashing naked for a short distance in a public place Æ like a streak [Colloq.] at high speed; swiftly streak´er •n. [ME streke < OE strica: for IE base see STRIKE]

streaky (stri:´ki:) streak´i·er, streak´i·est •adj. 1 marked with or showing streaks 2 occurring in streaks 3 uneven or variable, as in quality streak´i·ly •adv. streak´i·ness •n.

stream (stri:m) •n. 1 a current or flow of water or other liquid, esp. one running along the surface of the earth; specif., a small river 2 a steady movement or flow a) of any fluid {a stream of cold air} b) of rays of energy {a stream of light} 3 a continuous series or succession {a stream of cars} 4 a trend or course {the stream of events} 5 [Brit., etc.] Educ. any of the sections formed when students within a grade level are grouped, as according to their abilities •vi. 1 to flow in or as in a stream 2 to give off a stream; flow (with) {eyes streaming with tears} 3 to move steadily or continuously 4 to move swiftly; rush {fire streamed up the wall} 5 to extend or stretch out; float; fly, as a flag in the breeze •vt. to cause to stream [ME strem < OE stream, akin to Ger strom < IE base *sreu-, to flow > Gr rheein, to flow]

stream of consciousness Psychol. individual conscious experience regarded as a continuous series of occurrences rather than as separate, disconnected events

streamer (stri:m´эr) •n. 1 something that streams 2 a long, narrow, ribbonlike flag or banner 3 any long, narrow strip of cloth, colored paper, ribbon, etc., hanging loose at one end 4 a ray or stream of light extending up from the horizon 5 a newspaper headline across the full page; banner

streamlet (stri:m´lit) •n. a small stream; rivulet

streamline (-lain') •n. 1 the path, or a section of the path, of a fluid moving past a solid object 2 a contour with reference to its resistance, as to air •vt. -lined', -lin'ing to make streamlined •adj. STREAMLINED

streamline flow LAMINAR FLOW

streamlined (-laind') •adj. 1 having a contour designed to offer the least resistance in moving through air, water, etc. Æ 2 so arranged or organized as to gain simplicity and efficiency 3 with no excess, as of fat, decoration, etc.; trim, simplified, etc. {a streamlined figure or design}

stream-of-consciousness (-эv kän´shэs nis) •adj. designating, of, or using a narrative technique whereby the thoughts, percepts, etc. of one or more of the characters of a novel, short story, etc. are recorded [term orig. by William JAMES]

streamy (stri:m´i:) stream´i·er, stream´i·est •adj. 1 full of streams or currents 2 streaming; flowing

street (stri:t) •n. 1 a public road in a town or city; esp. a paved thoroughfare with sidewalks and buildings along one or both sides 2 such a road apart from its sidewalks {children playing in the street} 3 the people living, working, etc. in the buildings along a given street 4 [often pl.] figuratively, the general public, common people, etc. {taking the issue to the street} 5 [usually pl.] figuratively, an urban environment characterized by poverty, crime, etc. •adj. 1 of, in, on, or near the street 2 suitable for everyday wear in public {street clothes} the street WALL STREET [ME < OE stræt, akin to Ger strasse < early WGmc loanword < LL strata < L strata (via), paved (road), fem. of stratus: see STRATUM]

street Arab a homeless or neglected child left to roam the streets; gamin Also street urchin

street people people who gather or live primarily on streets, malls, etc., as homeless transients, vagrants, alienated youth, residents of crowded neighborhoods, etc.

street smarts cunning or shrewdness needed to live in, or to deal with people living in, an urban environment characterized by poverty, crime, etc.

street theater (or theatre) an amateur theatrical production performed in a street, park, etc. or indoors, usually for a nonpaying audience, with an improvised script generally on a social or political theme

streetcar (-kär') •n. a large coach or car on rails that provides public transportation along certain streets

street-smart (-smärt') •adj. STREETWISE

streetwalker (-wök'эr) •n. a prostitute who solicits customers along the streets street´walk'ing •n.

streetwise (-waiz') •adj. [Colloq.] experienced, knowledgeable, or cunning in dealing with the people in poverty areas of a city, esp. in those areas where vice and crime are prevalent

strength (streŋkθ, streŋθ; often strenθ) •n. 1 the state or quality of being strong; force; power; vigor 2 the power to resist strain, stress, etc.; toughness; durability 3 the power to resist attack; impregnability 4 legal, moral, or intellectual force or effectiveness 5 a) capacity for producing a reaction or effect b) potency or concentration, as of drugs, liquors, etc. c) great effectiveness or high potency 6 intensity, as of sound, color, odor, etc. 7 force as measured in numbers {a battalion at full strength} 8 vigor or force of feeling or expression 9 a source of strength or support 10 a tendency to rise or remain firm in prices from strength to strength from one accomplishment or peak to another, often in an increasing progression on the strength of based or relying on SYN.—strength refers to the inherent capacity to act upon or affect something, to endure, to resist, etc. [the strength to lift something, tensile strength]; power, somewhat more general, applies to the ability, latent or exerted, physical or mental, to do something [the power of the press, of a machine, etc.]; force usually suggests the actual exertion of power, esp. in producing motion or overcoming opposition [the force of gravity]; might suggests great or overwhelming strength or power [with all one's might]; energy specifically implies latent power for doing work or affecting something [the energy in an atom]; potency refers to the inherent capacity or power to accomplish something [the potency of a drug] —ANT. weakness, impotence [ME strengthe < OE strengthu < *strang-ithu: see STRONG & -TH¹]

strengthen (-эn) •vt., vi. to increase in strength; make or become stronger strength´en·er •n.