stow

UK: /ˈstəʊ/ US: /stoʊ/ ,(stō)

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

stow /stoʊ/   v. 

1. to put away in an orderly fashion:
   [~ + object] The sailors stowed their gear below.
2. Slang Terms to stop; break off:
   [~ + object] Stow the talk; I'm not interested.
3. stow away, [no object] to hide oneself aboard a boat, etc., as a stowaway.

stow•age /ˈstoʊɪdʒ/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stow (stō),  v.t. 

1. [Naut.]
   • Naval Terms to put (cargo, provisions, etc.) in the places intended for them.
   • Naval Terms to put (sails, spars, gear, etc.) in the proper place or condition when not in use.
2. to put in a place or receptacle, as for storage or reserve;
   pack:
   He stowed the potatoes in our cellar.
3. to fill (a place or receptacle) by packing:
   to stow a carton with books.
4. to have or afford room for;
   hold.
5. Slang Terms to stop;
   break off:
   Stow it! Stow the talk!
6. to put away, as in a safe or convenient place (often fol. by away).
7. to lodge or quarter.
8. stow away, to conceal oneself aboard a ship or other conveyance in order to obtain free transportation or to elude pursuers.

• 1300–50; Middle English stowen, Old English stōwigan to keep, hold back (literally, to place), derivative of stōw place; akin to Old Norse eldstō fireplace, Gothic stojan to judge (literally, to place)

stow′a•ble, adj. 

Stow  (stō), n. 

1. Place Names a city in NE Ohio. 25,303.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stow / stəʊ/ verb (transitive)

1. (often followed by away) to pack or store
2. to fill by packing
3. to pack or put away (cargo, sails and other gear, etc)
4. to have enough room for
5. (usually imperative) to cease from: stow your noise!, stow it!

Etymology: Old English stōwian to keep, hold back, from stōw a place; related to Old High German stouwen to accuse, Gothic stōjan to judge, Old Slavonic staviti to place

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Stow / stəʊ/ noun

1. John. 1525–1605, English antiquary, noted for his Survey of London and Westminster (1598; 1603)