Dictionary definition · stay
noun
- continuing or remaining in a place or state"they had a nice stay in Paris"
- the state of inactivity following an interruption"the negotiations were in arrest"
- a judicial order forbidding some action until an event occurs or the order is lifted"the Supreme Court has the power to stay an injunction pending an appeal to the whole Court"
- a thin strip of metal or bone that is used to stiffen a garment (e.g. a corset)
- (nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar
verb
- stay the same; remain in a certain state"The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it"
- be in a certain place and not leave"We are staying in Detroit; we are not moving to Cincinnati"
- dwell"You can stay with me while you are in town"
- continue in a place, position, or situation"After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser"
- stop or halt"Please stay the bloodshed!"
- hang on during a trial of endurance"ride out the storm"
- stop a judicial process"The judge stayed the execution order"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).