to stave
- verb
- /steɪv/
- The carpenter decided to stave the wooden barrel by adding sturdy strips of wood to support its structure.
Examples
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In order to create a strong frame for the fence, they needed to stave the posts with narrow wooden slats.
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Before assembling the chair, the craftsman prepared to stave the pieces of wood for added strength.
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What he doesn't know is whether love will stave it off or bring it on.
Fiction book (1991) -
Perhaps this strength will stave off the final demise of the private junior college.
Academic text (1991) -
In hopes of staving off disaster.
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We keep the back channels open in hopes of staving off disaster.
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Look at all these people jogging, trying to stave off the inevitable decay of the body.
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The pressing need for troops to stave off military disaster brought national conscription to the table.
Academic text (2000) -
Yet the new loans, while staving off default, have done nothing to solve the debt crisis.
Academic text (1992) -
So Peynado and fellow residents banded together to stave off what could become the high price of popularity.
Academic text (2006)
Synonyms
To cover something with thin strips so air or light can pass
Phrasal Verbs
Surface Forms
Etymology
To stave (verb) meaning to fit with staves comes from the noun stave meaning 'stick', so to stave a barrel is to put the thin 'sticks' together to form its sides.