stave

UK: /ˈsteɪv/ US: /steɪv/ ,(stāv)

Inflections of 'stave' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

staves

v 3rd person singular

staving

v pres p

staved

v past

stove

v past

staved

v past p

stove

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

stave /steɪv/   n., v., staved or stove/stoʊv/  stav•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. one of the thin, narrow, shaped pieces of wood that form the sides of a cask, tub, etc.
2. a stick, rod, or pole.

v. 

3. stave off:
   • to put off or keep off, as by force: [~ + off + object]
     to stave off an attack.
     [~ + object + off]
     to stave it off.
   • to prevent in time;
     forestall: [~ + off + object]
     to stave off bankruptcy.
     [~ + object + off]
     to stave it off.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stave (stāv),  n., v., staved or stove, stav•ing. 

n. 

1. one of the thin, narrow, shaped pieces of wood that form the sides of a cask, tub, or similar vessel.
2. a stick, rod, pole, or the like.
3. Building a rung of a ladder, chair, etc.
4. Poetry [Pros.]
   • a verse or stanza of a poem or song.
   • the alliterating sound in a line of verse, as the w- sound in wind in the willows.
5. Music and Dance staff¹ (def. 9).

v.t. 

6. Wine to break in a stave or staves of (a cask or barrel) so as to release the wine, liquor, or other contents.
7. Wine to release (wine, liquor, etc.) by breaking the cask or barrel.
8. to break or crush (something) inward (often fol. by in).
9. to break (a hole) in, esp. in the hull of a boat.
10. to break to pieces;
    splinter;
    smash.
11. Building to furnish with a stave or staves.
12. to beat with a stave or staff.

v.i. 

13. to become staved in, as a boat;
    break in or up.
14. to move along rapidly.
15. stave off:
    • to put, ward, or keep off, as by force or evasion.
    • to prevent in time;
      forestall:
      He wasn't able to stave off bankruptcy.

• 1125–75; (noun, nominal) Middle English, back formation from staves; (verb, verbal) derivative of the noun, nominal

Synonyms

• 4. See verse. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stave / steɪv/ noun

1. any one of a number of long strips of wood joined together to form a barrel, bucket, boat hull, etc
2. any of various bars, slats, or rods, usually of wood, such as a rung of a ladder or a crosspiece bracing the legs of a chair
3. any stick, staff, etc
4. a stanza or verse of a poem
5. an individual group of five lines and four spaces used in staff notation
6. another word for staff19

verb (staves, staving, staved, stove)

1. (often followed by in) to break or crush (the staves of a boat, barrel, etc) or (of the staves of a boat) to be broken or crushed
2. (transitive) usually followed by in: to burst or force (a hole in something)
3. (transitive) to provide (a ladder, chair, etc) with a stave or staves
4. (transitive) to sprain (a finger, toe, etc)

Etymology: 14th Century: back formation from staves, plural of staff¹