noun

1. Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time; sojourn.

   “I hope you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii.”

2. A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.

   “The governor granted a stay of execution.”

3. A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.

   “stand at a stay”

verb

1. To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.

2. To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.

3. To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.

Synonyms: endure, resist, cancel, cease, discontinue, halt, stop, terminate

noun

1. A prop; a support.

2. A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing.

   “Where are the stays for my collar?”

3. (in the plural) A corset.

noun

1. A strong rope or wire supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.

2. A guy, rope, or wire supporting or stabilizing a platform, such as a bridge, a pole, such as a tentpole, the mast of a derrick, or other structural element.

   “The engineer insisted on using stays for the scaffolding.”

3. The transverse piece in a chain-cable link.

Synonyms: mastrope

verb

1. To brace or support with a stay or stays

   “stay a mast”

2. To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.

3. To tack; put on the other tack.

   “to stay ship”

noun

1. A corset.