<~ movies>3stag adverb : unaccompanied by a date
1stage noun [ORIGIN: ME, fr. AF estage abode, story of a building, stage, fr. VL *staticum, fr. L stare to stand]
1 : a raised platform on which an orator may speak or a play may be presented
2 : the acting profession : THEATER
3 : the scene of a notable action or event
4 a : a station or resting place on a traveled road
b : the distance between two stopping places on a road
5 : STAGECOACH
6 : a degree of advance in an undertaking, process, or development
7 : a propulsion unit in a rocket
— stagy adjective
Synonyms
[1] dais, platform, podium, rostrum, stand—more at PLATFORM
[2] theater, theatricals
[4b] lap, leg, step—more at LEG
[6] cut, degree, grade, inch, notch, peg, phase, point, step—more at DEGREE
2stage verb staged; stag·ing : to produce or perform on or as if on a stage
— stage·able adjective
Synonyms
carry, give, mount, offer, present—more at PRESENT
stage·coach noun : a horse-drawn coach that runs regularly between stations
stage manager noun : one who supervises the physical aspects of a stage production
stag·fla·tion noun : inflation with stagnant economic activity and high unemployment
1stagger verb 1 : to reel from side to side : TOTTER
2 : to begin to doubt : WAVER
3 : to cause to reel or waver
4 : to arrange in overlapping or alternating positions or times <~ working hours>
5 : ASTONISH
— stag·ger·ing·ly adverb
Synonyms
careen, dodder, lurch, reel, teeter, totter; also rock, sway, weave, wobble; clump, flounder, lumber, lump, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, stamp, stomp, stumble, tramp, tromp
2stagger noun 1 singular or plural : an abnormal condition of domestic animals associated with damage to the central nervous system and marked by lack of coordination and a reeling unsteady gait
2 : a reeling or unsteady gait or stance
stag·ing noun 1 : SCAFFOLDING
2 : the assembling of troops and matériel in transit in a particular place
stag·nant adjective 1 : not flowing : MOTIONLESS <~ water in a pond>
2 : DULL, INACTIVE <~ business>
stag·nate verb stag·nat·ed; stag·nat·ing : to be or become stagnant
— stag·na·tion noun
staid adjective : marked by settled sedateness and often prim self-restraint
Synonyms
august, dignified, imposing, solemn, stately—more at DIGNIFIED
earnest, grave, humorless, serious, severe, sober, solemn, unsmiling, weighty—more at SERIOUS
1stain verb 1 : to discolor esp. with dirt : SOIL
2 : to touch or affect slightly with something bad : TAINT
3 : DISGRACE
4 : to color (as wood, paper, or cloth) by processes affecting the material itself
Synonyms
[1] befoul, begrime, besmirch, blacken, dirty, foul, grime, mire, muddy, smirch, soil—more at DIRTY
[2] blemish, mar, poison, spoil, taint, tarnish, touch, vitiate—more at TAINT
[4] color, dye, paint, tinge, tint—more at COLOR
2stain noun 1 : a small soiled or discolored area
2 : a taint of guilt : STIGMA
3 : a preparation (as a dye or pigment) used in staining
Synonyms
[2] blot, brand, smirch, spot, stigma, taint; also discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disrepute, guilt, ignominy, infamy, odium, opprobrium, reproach, shame
[3] color, dye, pigment—more at PIGMENT
stain·less adjective : free from stain or stigma
Synonyms
clean, immaculate, spick-and-span, spotless, unsoiled, unsullied—more at CLEAN
stainless steel noun : steel alloyed with chromium that is highly resistant to stain, rust, and corrosion
stair noun 1 : a series of steps or flights of steps for passing from one level to another — often used in pl.
2 : one step of a stairway
stair·case noun : a flight of steps with their supporting framework, casing,