stable Hear it!

stable¹ Definition

sta·ble (stā′bəl)

adjective -·bler, -·blest

    1. not easily moved or thrown off balance; firm; steady
    2. not likely to break down, fall apart, or give way; fixed
    1. firm in character, purpose, or resolution; steadfast
    2. reliable, dependable
  3. not likely to change or be affected adversely; lasting; enduring
    1. emotionally steady; composed; self-possessed
    2. mentally sound; sane; rational
  5. capable of returning to equilibrium or original position after having been displaced
  6. Chem., Physics
    1. not readily decomposing or changing from one state of matter to another
    2. not undergoing spontaneous change
  7. Nuclear Physics incapable of radioactive decay

Etymology: ME < OFr estable < L stabilis < stare, to stand

stable¹ Related Forms

sta′·bly adverb

stable² Definition

sta·ble (stā′bəl)

noun

    1. a building in which horses or cattle are sheltered and fed
    2. a group of animals kept or belonging in such a building
    1. all the racehorses belonging to one owner
    2. the people employed to take care of and train such a group of racehorses
  3. Informal all the athletes, writers, performers, etc. under one management, with one agent, etc.

Etymology: ME < OFr estable < L stabulum < stare, to stand

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·bled, -·bling

to lodge, keep, or be kept in or as in a stable

stable Synonyms

stable

modif.

  1. Fixed

    steady, stationary, solid; see firm 1.

  2. Steadfast

    calm, firm, constant; see resolute 2.

  3. Permanent

    enduring, well-built, durable; see permanent 1.

stable Synonyms

stable

n.

shelter, barn, coop, corral, hutch, kennel; see also pen 1.

stable Synonyms

stable

v.

pen, corral, put up; see tend 1.

stable Usage Examples

Object

horse: Note: There are horses stabled opposite the cottage.

Converse of object

ride: There are several riding stables nearby, all speak English.

Adjective modifier

  • converted: The cookery school is housed in the ground floor of the converted Georgian stables, which overlook the castle.. .
  • livery: There are 20 horses in livery stables on the estate.
  • former: This beautifully restored grade II listed former stables has been recently renovated to a very high standard.

Modifies a noun

  • isotope: Stable isotopes are naturally occurring and are used as a marker for what is happening inside the body.
  • angina: Design: Protocol guided management of patients with stable angina.
  • block: The grand stable block was designed by William Legg.
  • yard: It has an archway wide enough for coaches to pass through into the picturesque medieval stable yard.
  • door: Pretty garden with stable door to rear of property.
  • platform: The pontoon thus firmly founded, the dredging gear would work from a stable platform.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: Now patients with HIV can remain stable for many years.
  • appear: I don't recall many problems with the Microsoft DHCP Server during these years, so this piece of Microsoft software appears reasonably stable.
  • stay: That, we propose, is why the Protestant isolation indices stayed so stable between 1911 and 1981, while the Catholic indices rose.
  • seem: Navigator also seems much more stable under Windows than Linux.

Noun used with modifier

riding: Program 10 Alice visits an extraordinary riding stables located under one of London's busiest roads.

Modifying Another Word

  • relatively: Tuberculosis in Scotland has been relatively stable over the past 20 years.
  • financially: Money net pension searches Nick Gardiner is financially stable at 26.

Preposition: in

siding: DMUs were ( and still are ) stabled in the sidings at Bangor between turns.

Preposition: for

horse: Outside were two well built concrete and brick pig sties and a stable for horses and carriages.