stabile

1 of 2

adjective

stabile

2 of 2

noun

sta·​bile ˈstā-ˌbēl How to pronounce stabile (audio)
: an abstract sculpture or construction similar in appearance to a mobile but made to be stationary

Examples of stabile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
On one end is Alexander Calder’s stabile Nenuphar, made especially for the museum’s opening in 1968. Roger Catlin, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Sep. 2023 The child is recovering and is in stabile condition, the Spanish Fork Police Department said. USA TODAY, 25 May 2023 Allen was drafted into a stabile situation in Buffalo. Brad Biggs, chicagotribune.com, 13 Sep. 2021
Noun
The pieces on view include mobiles, stabiles, paper works, oil painting and more. Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023 Unlike Calder’s mobiles that perform for you, his stabiles are viewer-activated. Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Know, 14 May 2017 Calder is credited with having created the mobile as well as the stabile, a sculpture that contains moving parts but sits on the floor. Hailey Ross, idahostatesman, 16 June 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stabile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin stabilis — more at stable

Noun

probably from French, from Latin stabilis, adjective

First Known Use

Adjective

1896, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stabile was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near stabile

Cite this Entry

“Stabile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stabile. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

stabile

adjective
sta·​bile ˈstā-ˌbīl How to pronounce stabile (audio) -ˌbil How to pronounce stabile (audio)
1
2
: resistant to chemical change
native proteins are never stabileOtto Rahn

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