stagger

Stagger is defined as to move or stand unsteadily, to hesitate or to waver.

(verb)

  1. An example of stagger is a very drunk person walking across the room.
  2. An example of stagger is a woman losing her nerve just before asking a man out on a date.

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See stagger in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

  1. to move unsteadily, as though about to collapse; totter, sway, or reel, as from a blow, fatigue, drunkenness, etc.
  2. to lose determination, strength of purpose, etc.; hesitate; waver

Origin: ME stakeren < ON stakra, to totter, intens. of staka, to push (for IE base see stake): akin to & prob. infl. in form by MDu staggeren

transitive verb

  1. to cause to stagger, as with a blow
  2. to affect strongly with astonishment, horror, grief, etc.; overwhelm
  3. to set, arrange, or incline alternately, as on either side of a line; make zigzag or alternating: to stagger the teeth of a saw
  4. to arrange (periods of activity, duties, etc.) so as to avoid crowding: to stagger employees' vacations
  5. Aeron. to set or arrange (airfoils, rotors, etc.) so that one is slightly ahead of another

noun

  1. the act of staggering, or reeling, tottering, etc.
  2. a staggered or zigzag arrangement
  3. any of several diseases or toxic conditions of horses, cattle, etc., characterized by a loss of coordination, and by staggering, falling, etc.: often with the

Related Forms:

See stagger in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb stag·gered, stag·ger·ing, stag·gers
verb, intransitive
  1. To move or stand unsteadily, as if under a great weight; totter.
  2. To begin to lose confidence or strength of purpose; waver.
verb, transitive
  1. To cause to totter, sway, or reel: The blow staggered him.
  2. a. To overwhelm with emotion or astonishment.
    b. To cause to waver or lose confidence.
  3. To place on or as if on alternating sides of a center line; set in a zigzag row or rows: theater seats that were staggered for clear viewing.
  4. To arrange in alternating or overlapping time periods: staggered the nurses' shifts.
  5. To arrange (the wings of a biplane) so that the leading edge of one wing is either ahead of or behind the leading edge of the other wing.
  6. Sports To arrange (the start of a race) with the starting point in the outside lanes progressively closer to the finish line so as to neutralize the advantage of competing in the shorter inside lanes.
noun
  1. A tottering, swaying, or reeling motion.
  2. A staggered pattern, arrangement, or order.
  3. staggers (used with a sing. verb) Any of various diseases of the nervous system in animals, especially horses, cattle, or other domestic animals, characterized by a lack of coordination in moving, a staggering gait, and frequent falling. Also called blind staggers.

Origin:

Origin: Alteration of Middle English stakeren

Origin: , from Old Norse stakra

Origin: , frequentative of staka, to push

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Related Forms:

  • stagˈger·er noun
  • stagˈger·y adjective

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