sty Hear it!

sty¹ Definition

sty (stī)

noun pl. sties

  1. a pen for pigs
  2. any foul or filthy place

Etymology: ME stie < OE sti, stig, hall, enclosure, prob. < IE base *stāi-, to stop up, thicken > stone

transitive verb, intransitive verb stied, sty′·ing

to lodge in or as in a sty

sty² Definition

sty (stī)

noun pl. sties or styes

a small, inflamed swelling of a sebaceous gland on the rim of an eyelid

Etymology: < obs. dial. styany (taken as sty on eye) < dial. styan, rising < OE stigend, prp. of stigan, to climb, rise: see stile

sty Synonyms

sty

n.

den, hovel, pigsty, pigpen, hole; see also dump, pen 1.

sty Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • build: Posted by witho on 13 September, 2004 at 11:17 AM Building a pig sty?
  • have: Ben Thorne, Pig Killer Most houses in the district had pig sties.

Adjective modifier

  • old: The owner had a beautiful alpine garden growing on the top of an old pig sty.

Noun used with modifier

  • pig: Cycling around Chinese farms where the stink of the pig sties had to be smelled to be believed.
  • brick: The animals lived in anything from a proper brick sty, to a rough back yard shelter.
sty Quotes

All other parts remaining as they were, And they, so perfect in their misery, Not once perceive their foul disfigurement, But boast themselves more comely than before And all their friends, and native home forget To roll with pleasure in a sensual sty.

—Milton,John

Browse dictionary entries near sty

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