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 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