stagger

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

(verb)

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

See stagger in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to move unsteadily, as though about to collapse; totter, sway, or reel, as from a blow, fatigue, drunkenness, etc.
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

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

noun

the act of staggering, or reeling, tottering, etc.
a staggered or zigzag arrangement
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

verb, transitive

To cause to totter, sway, or reel: The blow staggered him.
a. To overwhelm with emotion or astonishment.
b. To cause to waver or lose confidence.
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.
To arrange in alternating or overlapping time periods: staggered the nurses' shifts.
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.
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

A tottering, swaying, or reeling motion.
A staggered pattern, arrangement, or order.
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

Related Forms: