▸ stay in PHRASAL VERB If you stay in during the evening, you remain at home and do not go out. □ [V P ] Before we had our child the idea of staying in every night would have been horrific.
▸ stay on PHRASAL VERB If you stay on somewhere, you remain there after other people have left or after the time when you were going to leave. □ [V P ] He had managed to arrange to stay on in Adelaide. □ [V P ] …an allowance for poorer pupils who want to stay on at school.
▸ stay out PHRASAL VERB If you stay out at night, you remain away from home, especially when you are expected to be there. □ [V P ] That was the first time Elliot stayed out all night.
▸ stay up PHRASAL VERB If you stay up , you remain out of bed at a time when most people have gone to bed or at a time when you are normally in bed yourself. □ [V P adv/prep] I used to stay up late with my mom and watch movies.
sta y-at-home (stay-at-homes ) N‑COUNT [usu N n] If you describe someone as a stay-at-home , you mean that they stay at home rather than going out to work or travelling. □ 71 percent of households do not include a stay-at-home parent.
stay|ca|tion /ste I ke I ʃən/ (staycations ) also stacation N‑COUNT A staycation is a holiday that you spend in your own home or your own country, relaxing and enjoying leisure activities there. [INFORMAL ] □ The great British staycation is back in fashion with more British holidaymakers choosing not to jet off to the sun but to stay at home instead.
sta y|ing pow|er also staying-power N‑UNCOUNT If you have staying power , you have the strength or determination to keep going until you reach the end of what you are doing. □ Someone who lacks staying power and persistence is unlikely to make a good researcher.
sta y of ex|ecu |tion (stays of execution ) N‑COUNT If you are given a stay of execution , you are legally allowed to delay obeying an order of a court of law. [LEGAL ]
STD /e s tiː diː / (STDs ) N‑COUNT [usu N n] STD is an abbreviation for 'sexually transmitted disease'. [MEDICAL ] □ …an STD clinic.
stead /ste d/
1 PHRASE If you do something in someone's stead , you replace them and do it instead of them. [FORMAL ] □ We hope you will consent to act in his stead.
2 PHRASE If you say that something will stand someone in good stead , you mean that it will be very useful to them in the future. □ My years of teaching stood me in good stead.
stead|fast /ste dfɑːst, -fæst/ ADJ If someone is steadfast in something that they are doing, they are convinced that what they are doing is right and they refuse to change it or to give up. □ [+ in ] He remained steadfast in his belief that he had done the right thing.
steady ◆◇◇ /ste di/ (steadier , steadiest , steadies , steadying , steadied )
1 ADJ A steady situation continues or develops gradually without any interruptions and is not likely to change quickly. □ Despite the steady progress of building work, the campaign against it is still going strong. □ The improvement in standards has been steady and persistent. □ A student doesn't have a steady income. ● steadi|ly /ste d I li/ ADV [ADV with v] □ Relax as much as possible and keep breathing steadily.
2 ADJ If an object is steady , it is firm and does not shake or move about. □ Get as close to the subject as you can and hold the camera steady.
3 ADJ If you look at someone or speak to them in a steady way, you look or speak in a calm, controlled way. □ 'Well, go on,' said Camilla, her voice fairly steady. ● steadi|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ He moved back a little and stared steadily at Elaine.
4 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe a person as steady , you mean that they are sensible and reliable. □ He was firm and steady unlike other men she knew.
5 VERB If you steady something or if it steadies , it stops shaking or moving about. □ [V n] Two men were on the bridge-deck, steadying a ladder. □ [V ] Lovelock eased back the throttles and the ship steadied.
6 VERB If you steady yourself , you control your voice or expression, so that people will think that you are calm and not nervous. □ [V pron-refl] Her face turned away, and he saw she was trying to steady herself. □ [V n] She breathed in to steady her voice.
7 EXCLAM You say ' steady on ' to someone to tell them to calm down or to be careful about what they are saying. □ 'What if there's another murder?'—'Steady on!'
steak /ste I k/ (steaks )
1 N‑VAR A steak is a large flat piece of beef without much fat on it. You cook it by grilling or frying it.
2 → see also rump steak , T-bone steak
3 N‑UNCOUNT Steak is beef that is used for making stews. It is often cut into cubes to be sold. □ …steak and kidney pie.
4 → see also stewing steak
5 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A fish steak is a large piece of fish that contains few bones. □ …fresh salmon steaks.
stea k house (steak houses ) also steakhouse N‑COUNT A steak house is a restaurant that serves mainly steaks.
steal ◆◇◇ /stiː l/ (steals , stealing , stole , stolen )
1 VERB If you steal something from someone, you take it away from them without their permission and without intending to return it. □ [V n] He was accused of stealing a small boy's bicycle. □ [V n + from ] Bridge stole the money from clients' accounts. □ [V ] Sometimes she had to steal to eat. □ [V -ing] She has since been jailed for six months for stealing from the tills. ● sto|len ADJ □ We have now found the stolen car.