stay definition

1. continuing or remaining in a place or state
• examples: they had a nice stay in Paris
• examples: a lengthy hospital stay
• examples: a four-month stay in bankruptcy court
2. a judicial order forbidding some action until an event occurs or the order is lifted
• examples: the Supreme Court has the power to stay an injunction pending an appeal to the whole Court
3. a thin strip of metal or bone that is used to stiffen a garment (e.g. a corset)
4. (nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar
5. stay the same; remain in a certain state
• examples: The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it
• examples: rest assured
• examples: stay alone
• examples: He remained unmoved by her tears
• examples: The bad weather continued for another week
6. stay put (in a certain place)
• examples: We are staying in Detroit; we are not moving to Cincinnati
• examples: Stay put in the corner here!
• examples: Stick around and you will learn something!
7. continue in a place, position, or situation
• examples: After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser
• examples: Stay with me, please
• examples: despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year
• examples: She continued as deputy mayor for another year
8. remain behind
• examples: I had to stay at home and watch the children
9. stop or halt
• examples: Please stay the bloodshed!
10. stop a judicial process
• examples: The judge stayed the execution order
11. fasten with stays