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stave in

phrasal verb

Definition of stave in

: to be broken or crushed inward or to break or crush (something) inward
  • The hull of the boat stove in when it hit the rocks.
  • The rocks stove in the hull of the boat.

Word by Word Definitions

stave play

  1. : staff:1

  2. : any of the narrow strips of wood or narrow iron plates placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel (such as a barrel) or structure

  3. : stanza

  1. : to break in the staves of (a cask)

  2. : to smash a hole in

  3. : to drive or thrust away

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