stave

1 of 2

noun

ˈstāv 

1

: 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

2

: staff entry 1 sense 1

3

: staff entry 1 sense 3

4

: stanza sense 1

stave

2 of 2

verb

staved or stove ˈstōv  ; staving

transitive verb

1

: to smash a hole in

stove in the boat

also : to crush or break inward

staved in several ribs

2

: to break in the staves of (a cask)

3

: to drive or thrust away

intransitive verb

1

: to walk or move rapidly

2

archaic : to become stove in

—used of a boat or ship

Examples of stave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In 1975, the museum purchased his work Georgia Gate, a structure of fluidly bent pine staves inspired by photos of Georgia tombstones the artist saw in musicologist Marshall Stearns’s 1970 book The Story of Jazz. —News Desk, Artforum, 8 Mar. 2026

High levels of evaporation can invisibly drain a barrel while changing the flavor of what’s left inside, and evaporation can speed up when barrels are damaged during handling, the metal hoops holding the staves together come loose, or the stopper sealing the bunghole pops out of place. —Christopher Null, Wired News, 20 Feb. 2026

Verb

One service break per set, Fonseca with plenty of opportunities to steal them back, and Alcaraz’s ability to release pressure with his serve staving them off. —Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026

Beard said everyone eventually winds up in the same spot as the Rebels, needing to win or go home — with 68 teams lucky enough to make the NCAA Tournament and stave that off for another week. —Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, back-formation from staves, plural of staf staff

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1595, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing stave

• stave in
• stave off

Rhymes for stave

• brave
• cave
• clave
• crave
• fave
• gave
• grave
• knave
• lave
• nave
• pave
• rave

Kids Definition

stave

1 of 2 noun

ˈstāv 

1

: a wooden stick

2

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

3

: stanza

4

: staff entry 1 sense 3

stave

2 of 2 verb

staved or stove ˈstōv  ; staving

1

: to break in the staves of (a cask)

2

: to smash a hole in

stave in a boat