remain in the same place

you stay here and I'll be back soon

Jenny decided to stay at home with their young child

he stayed with the firm as a consultant

remain in a specified state or position

her ability to stay calm

tactics used to stay in power

I managed to stay out of trouble

(of a person) live somewhere temporarily as a visitor or guest

the girls had gone to stay with friends

Minton invited him to stay the night

stop, delay, or prevent (something), in particular suspend or postpone (judicial proceedings) or refrain from pressing (charges)

there are some cases the Crown feels so serious they don't want to stay the charges

support or prop up

it did not matter to you whether the building was stayed up or not?

a period of staying somewhere, in particular of living somewhere temporarily as a visitor or guest

an overnight stay at a luxury hotel

a curb or check

there is likely to be a good public library as a stay against boredom

a device used as a brace or support

power of endurance

some men are always great at beginnings; but they have no stay in them

a large rope, wire, or rod used to support a ship's mast, leading from the masthead to another mast or spar or down to another part of the ship

I eased off on the line while Patrick took up the tension on the side stays

the lack of stays to stiffen the masts leaves them with springiness

secure or steady (a mast) by means of stays

we stayed the mast on the starboard side by shifting the halyard