| English Dictionary |
STABLE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does stable mean?
• STABLE (noun)
The noun STABLE has 1 sense:
1. a farm building for housing horses or other livestock
Familiarity information: STABLE used as a noun is very rare.
• STABLE (adjective)
The adjective STABLE has 5 senses:
1. resistant to change of position or condition
2. firm and dependable; subject to little fluctuation
3. not taking part readily in chemical change
4. maintaining equilibrium
5. showing little if any change
Familiarity information: STABLE used as an adjective is common.
• STABLE (verb)
The verb STABLE has 1 sense:
1. shelter in a stable
Familiarity information: STABLE used as a verb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A farm building for housing horses or other livestock
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
horse barn; stable; stalls
Hypernyms ("stable" is a kind of...):
farm building (a building on a farm)
Meronyms (parts of "stable"):
stall (a compartment in a stable where a single animal is confined and fed)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stable"):
livery stable (stable where horses and vehicles are kept for hire)
Instance hyponyms:
Augean stables ((Greek mythology) the extremely dirty stables that were finally cleaned by Hercules who diverted two rivers through them)
Derivation:
stable (shelter in a stable)
| Declension: comparative and superlative |
Superlative: stablest
Sense 1
Meaning:
Resistant to change of position or condition
Context example:
stable prices
Similar:
firm; steady; unfluctuating (not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall)
lasting (lasting a long time without change)
stabile ((chemistry, physics, biology) resistant to change)
stabilised; stabilized (made stable or firm)
Also:
constant (steadfast in purpose or devotion or affection)
lasting; permanent (continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place)
steady (not subject to change or variation especially in behavior)
Antonym:
unstable (lacking stability or fixity or firmness)
Derivation:
stability (the quality of being enduring and free from change or variation)
stableness (the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Firm and dependable; subject to little fluctuation
Context example:
the economy is stable
Similar:
sound (financially secure and safe)
Derivation:
stability; stableness (the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Not taking part readily in chemical change
Similar:
unreactive ((chemistry) not reacting chemically)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Maintaining equilibrium
Similar:
balanced (being in a state of proper equilibrium)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Showing little if any change
Synonyms:
stable; static; unchanging
Context example:
a static population
Similar:
unchangeable (not changeable or subject to change)
Derivation:
stability (the quality of being enduring and free from change or variation)
stableness (the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it stables Past simple: stabled
Past participle: stabled
-ing form: stabling
Sense 1
Meaning:
Shelter in a stable
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Context example:
stable horses
Hypernyms (to "stable" is one way to...):
shelter (provide shelter for)
Domain category:
animal husbandry (breeding and caring for farm animals)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sentence example:
They stable the animals
Derivation:
stable (a farm building for housing horses or other livestock)
stabling (accommodation for animals (especially for horses))
Context examples
The plants had a relatively stable climate in the past, but that doesn't mean they'll have a stable future.
(Nearly 40% of plant species are very rare, and vulnerable to climate change, National Science Foundation)
In contrast, Antarctic temperatures have remained relatively stable over the past two decades, although year-to-year and decade-to-decade variation in temperatures have increased.
(Warming at the poles will have global consequences, National Science Foundation)
‘You are close to the King’s Pyland training-stables,’ said she.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Cactinomycin binds to DNA by intercalating between guanine and cytosine, forming stable antibiotic-DNA complexes that inhibit RNA and protein synthesis.
(Cactinomycin, NCI Thesaurus)
Due to competing thermodynamic effects, however, below a certain diameter these water clusters cannot form stable ice I.
(Scientists probe the limits of ice, National Science Foundation)
The others laughed, and said: “Seek one for yourself when we are gone, we will leave one behind us in the stable for you.”
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
Later in the day, he chanced upon another stray chicken near the stables.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
A semisynthetic, beta-lactamase-stable, third-generation cephalosporin with antibacterial activity.
(Cefetamet, NCI Thesaurus)
On the other side were the stables.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
People with type 2 diabetes whose beta cells don't work properly have to inject insulin to keep their blood glucose levels stable.
(New Potential Approach Found to Type 2 Diabetes Treatment, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
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"Tree would bend when it bears fruit." (Azerbaijani proverb)
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"Learned young is done old." (Dutch proverb)