stave

1 of 2

noun

ˈstāv 

1

: any of the narrow strips of wood or narrow iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel (such as a barrel) or structure

2

: staff entry 1 sense 1

3

: staff entry 1 sense 3

4

: stanza sense 1

stave

2 of 2

verb

staved or stove ˈstōv  ; staving

transitive verb

1

: to smash a hole in

stove in the boat

also : to crush or break inward

staved in several ribs

2

: to break in the staves of (a cask)

3

: to drive or thrust away

intransitive verb

1

: to walk or move rapidly

2

archaic : to become stove in

—used of a boat or ship

Examples of stave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It is made from finishing Yellowstone Select with toasted oak staves, this 100-proof bourbon brings extra character. —Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 1 Nov. 2024

This comes on the heels of the relaunch of Maker’s Mark’s Wood Finishing Series, which arrived last June in the form of the Heart Release, a cask-strength bourbon finished with two different types of wood staves. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2024

Verb

Or Israel and the U.S. could take military action to stave them off. —Uri Friedman, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024

Zimbabwe needs help from its international partners, as well as from neighboring countries and regional blocs, to stave of total economic collapse. —Tendai Biti, Foreign Affairs, 20 Aug. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, back-formation from staves, plural of staf staff

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1595, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing stave

• stave in
• stave off

Kids Definition

stave

1 of 2 noun

ˈstāv 

1

: a wooden stick

2

: one of the narrow strips of wood or iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel (as a barrel or cask) or structure

3

: stanza

4

: staff entry 1 sense 3

stave

2 of 2 verb

staved or stove ˈstōv  ; staving

1

: to break in the staves of (a cask)

2

: to smash a hole in

stave in a boat