stud

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈstəd 

plural studs

1

a

: a group of animals and especially horses kept primarily for breeding

b

: a place where a stud is kept

Haras du Pin, founded in 1730, is the biggest national stud in France …

—Wendy Insinger

—often used before another noun

stud farms

2

: stud horse

Next day, the stud was led from his stall and turned into the breaking pen.

—Dave Jones

broadly : a male animal kept or used for breeding

—often used before another noun

a stud dog

stud service

see also stud book

3

informal

a

: a very attractive and masculine man : hunk sense 2

He plays Torch, the shirtless soap-opera stud, with a restless, street-corner sexiness.

—Susan Littwin

… She's All That, in which high school stud Freddie Prinze Jr. transforms dork Rachel Leigh Cook into a beauty queen.

—Entertainment Weekly

often, specifically : such a man who has a reputation of having multiple sexual partners

The world, anyway the part of it that cares, has heard of [Warren] Beatty's reputation as stud and of his affair with Christie.

—Stanley Kaufmann

b

: a young man : guy

c

: a tough person

4

sports, informal : a very talented usually young new player

… Portland was one of the more active teams in the offseason, acquiring potential All-Star Harvey Grant and rebounding stud Chris Dudley.

—Joe Menzer

… the team will look to start over at the position with a young stud. …

—Adam Cloutier

—often used before another noun

The conventional spoon-feeding of the young stud pitcher calls for strict pitch counts and early exits.

—Tim Keown

5

often stud poker : poker in which each player is dealt a mix of usually five to seven facedown and faceup cards in multiple rounds with betting taking place after most rounds of dealing

Stud poker, where each player is dealt their first card face-down and the next four cards face-up, didn't come into existence for many years (until about 1864).

—Rebecca Ferguson

a stud poker player/game/hand

An M.B.A. from Harvard, he viewed seven-card stud as a test of money management …

—Sandra R. Gregg

When I was dealing I usually proposed five-card stud, a rudimentary game in which one's luck is quickly determined.

—Hayden Carruth

stud

2 of 4

noun (2)

1

a

: one of the smaller uprights in the framing of the walls of a building to which sheathing, paneling, or laths are fastened : scantling

b

: height from floor to ceiling

2

a

: a boss, rivet, or nail with a large head used (as on a shield or belt) for ornament or protection

b

: a solid button with a shank or eye on the back inserted (as through an eyelet in a garment) as a fastener or ornament

c

: a small button-like ornament with a post for inserting through a body part (such as the earlobe or nostril) and into a clasp

3

a

: any of various infixed pieces (such as a rod or pin) projecting from a machine and serving chiefly as a support or axis

b

: one of the metal or rubber cleats projecting from a snow tire to increase traction

stud

3 of 4

verb

studded; studding

transitive verb

1

: to furnish (a building, a wall, etc.) with studs

2

: to adorn, cover, or protect with studs

3

: to set, mark, or decorate conspicuously often at intervals

a sky studded with stars

a career studded with honors

stud

4 of 4

abbreviation

student

Phrases

at stud or less commonly in stud

: in the function of a stud : for breeding as a stud

Three important stallions—Cor de la Bryere, Furioso II and Zeus—which now stand at stud in West Germany, are leaders in their perspective age groups in the production of sport horses …

—Joan Birdsall

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• beefcake
• hunk
• pretty boy
• superstud

Examples of stud in a Sentence

Noun (1)

she promised her friend that the blind date would be a real stud

Verb

Beads stud the surface of the gown.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With their two stud receivers back, the Rams keep on winning. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

The leather feels substantial, not cheap in the slightest, and the buckle and studs are the ideal size—just bold enough to stand out without veering into trend victim territory. —Laura Lajiness Kaupke, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2024

Verb

The velvet upper contrasts with buckled, studded leather straps, while the detachable ribbon tie — reminiscent of a ballerina’s pointe shoe — is at odds with the extra chunky platform sole. —Esther Newman, refinery29.com, 23 Oct. 2024

But southern Oregon has found a way: a four-day trek through a swath of wilderness in the Rogue River Valley studded with remote lodges beyond the reach of the digital world. —Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English stod, from Old English stōd; akin to Old Church Slavic stado flock and probably to Old High German stān to stand — more at stand

Noun (2)

Middle English stode, from Old English studu; akin to Middle High German stud prop, Old Norse stoth post

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1506, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stud

• at stud
• five-card stud
• press stud
• seven-card stud
• stud book
• stud horse
• stud muffin

Kids Definition

stud

1 of 3 noun

ˈstəd 

1

: a group of animals and especially horses kept primarily for breeding

2

: a male animal (as a stallion) kept for breeding

stud

2 of 3 noun

1

: one of the smaller upright supports in the framing of the walls of a building to which the wall materials are fastened

2

a

: a knob, pin, bolt, or nail with a large head used for ornament or protection

b

: a solid button used on a garment as a fastener or ornament

3

: one of the metal or rubber cleats used on a snow tire to provide a better grip

stud

3 of 3 verb

studded; studding

1

: to furnish (as a wall) with studs

2

: to decorate, cover, or protect with studs

3

: to set or be set thickly together

water studded with islands

Etymology

Noun

Old English stōd

Noun

Old English studu