sty

¹sty

noun \ˈstī\

plural sties also styes

Definition of STY

: pigpen

Origin of STY

Middle English, from Old English stig pen; pigpen; akin to Old Norse svīnsti pigpen

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

Rhymes with STY

ay, aye, bi, Bligh, buy, by, bye, chai, chi, cry, die, dry, dye, eye, fie, fly, fry, guy, hie, high, Huai, i, I, lie, lye, my, nigh, phi, pi, pie, ply, pry, psi, rye, scythe, shy, sigh, sky, Skye, sly, spry, spy, Tai, Thai, thigh, thy, tie, try, vie, why, wry, wye, xi, Y

²sty

verb

stied or styedsty·ing

Definition of STY

transitive verb

: to lodge or keep in a sty

intransitive verb

: to live in a sty

First Known Use of STY

before 12th century

³sty

noun \ˈstī\

plural sties or styes

Definition of STY

: an inflamed swelling of a sebaceous gland at the margin of an eyelid

Variants of STY

sty or stye \ˈstī\

Origin of STY

short for obsolete English styan, from Middle English styanye eye with a sty, from Old English stīgend sty, from stīgan to go up, rise — more at stair

First Known Use: 1617

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

sty

noun    (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; stiesor ; styes

Medical Definition of STY

: an inflamed swelling of a sebaceous gland at the margin of an eyelid—called also hordeolum

Variants of STY

sty or stye \ˈstī\ (audio pronunciation)

sty

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Infection of an eyelid gland. An external sty results from infection of a sebaceous gland at the edge of the eyelid; tears flow and the eye feels tender, as if something is in it. The sty reddens and swells. Warm compresses help it break sooner. An internal sty is caused by infection of a meibomian gland under the eyelid lining. More painful than an external sty, it usually breaks through the inner lining of the lid when it discharges and may leave a painless cyst (chalazion) at the site. See also boil.

Variants of STY

sty or hordeolum