stable

[ stey-buhl ]

/ ˈsteɪ bəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR stable ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a building for the lodging and feeding of horses, cattle, etc.

such a building with stalls.

a collection of animals housed in such a building.

Horse Racing.

an establishment where racehorses are kept and trained.
the horses belonging to, or the persons connected with, such an establishment.

Informal.

a number of people, usually in the same profession, who are employed, trained, or represented by the same company, agency, manager, etc.: a comedy show with a large stable of writers.
the establishment that trains or manages such a group of people: two boxers from the same stable.
a collection of items produced by or belonging to an establishment, industry, profession, or the like: The American auto industry has some new small cars in its stable.

verb (used with object), sta·bled, sta·bling.

to put or lodge in or as if in a stable.

verb (used without object), sta·bled, sta·bling.

to live in or as if in a stable.

Nearby words

stabilization print, stabilize, stabilizer, stabilizer bar, stabilograph, stable, stable boy, stable door, stable equation, stable fly, stable isotope

Origin of stable

1200–50; Middle English stable < Old French estable < Latin stabulum standing room, equivalent to sta-, stem of stāre to stand + -bulum noun suffix denoting place

SYNONYMS FOR stable

1 barn, mews.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR stable ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formssta·ble·like, adjectiveun·sta·bled, adjective

Definition for stable (2 of 2)

stable

[ stey-buhl ]

/ ˈsteɪ bəl /

adjective, sta·bler, sta·blest.

not likely to fall or give way, as a structure, support, foundation, etc.; firm; steady.

able or likely to continue or last; firmly established; enduring or permanent: a stable government.

resistant to sudden change or deterioration: A stable economy is the aim of every government.

steadfast; not wavering or changeable, as in character or purpose; dependable.

not subject to emotional instability or illness; sane; mentally sound.

Physics. having the ability to react to a disturbing force by maintaining or reestablishing position, form, etc.

Chemistry. not readily decomposing, as a compound; resisting molecular or chemical change.

(of a patient's condition) exhibiting no significant change.

Origin of stable

1225–75; Middle English < Old French estable < Latin stabilis stabile

SYNONYMS FOR stable

1 fixed, strong, sturdy.

4 invariable, unvarying, staunch, constant, reliable, steady, solid.

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Related formssta·ble·ness, nounsta·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for stable

At St. Barnabas Hospital, Pellerano was listed in stable condition with wounds to his chest and arm.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The country, long viewed as stable, has recently been home to upheaval.
An African Dictatorship’s Friend in D.C.|Center for Public Integrity|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Spencer was listed in stable condition up at the hospital as Guilavogui handed out the last copy.
From Ebola Country to NYC’s Subways|Michael Daly|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The motorcyclist has since been discharged from hospital, while the taxi driver is in a 'stable' condition, the Mail reports.
Prince Harry's High Speed Crash Drama Prompts Terror Alert|Tom Sykes|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The United States is now the only really powerful nation to have eased into stable democratic government from the ground up.
Is Democracy Doomed Abroad?|James Poulos|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was a large yard at the back, and in one corner of it was the shed, which did duty for a stable.
Under the Red Crescent|Charles S. Ryan
Having issued this second edition of his interesting narrative, the landlord enters the stable.
The Lock And Key Library|Various
Above this temperature the anhydrous salt is the stable solid phase.
The Phase Rule and Its Applications|Alexander Findlay
Trotting, prancing, and snorting as they came down the lane, they settled down once they were in the stable lot.
David Lannarck, Midget|George S. Harney
They went to unload shakes and poles for stable from a barge.
An Artilleryman's Diary|Jenkin Lloyd Jones

British Dictionary definitions for stable (1 of 2)

stable

/ (ˈsteɪbəl) /

noun

a building, usually consisting of stalls, for the lodging of horses or other livestock

the animals lodged in such a building, collectively

the racehorses belonging to a particular establishment or owner
the establishment itself
(as modifier)stable companion

informal a source of training, such as a school, theatre, etcthe two athletes were out of the same stable

a number of people considered as a source of a particular talenta stable of writers

(modifier) of, relating to, or suitable for a stablestable manners

verb

to put, keep, or be kept in a stable

Word Origin for stable

C13: from Old French estable cowshed, from Latin stabulum shed, from stāre to stand

British Dictionary definitions for stable (2 of 2)

stable

/ (ˈsteɪbəl) /

adjective

steady in position or balance; firm

lasting or permanenta stable relationship

steadfast or firm of purpose

(of an elementary particle, atomic nucleus, etc) not undergoing decay; not radioactivea stable nuclide

(of a chemical compound) not readily partaking in a chemical change

(of electronic equipment) with no tendency to self-oscillation

Derived Formsstableness, nounstably, adverb

Word Origin for stable

C13: from Old French estable, from Latin stabilis steady, from stāre to stand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for stable (1 of 3)

stable

"building where horses or cows are kept," early 13c., "building for domestic animals," from Old French estable "a stable, stall" (also applied to cowsheds and pigsties), from Latin stabulum "a stall, fold, aviary, etc." literally "a standing place," from stem of stare "to stand" (see stet).

Meaning "collection of horses belonging to one stable is attested from 1570s; transferred sense of "group of fighters under same management" is from 1897; that of "group of prostitutes working for the same employer" is from 1937.

For what the grete Stiede
Is stole, thanne he taketh hiede,
And makth the stable dore fast.
[John Gower, "Confessio Amantis," 1390]

Word Origin and History for stable (1 of 3)

stable

adj.

"steadfast, firm," mid-13c., from Old French estable, from Latin stabilis "firm, steadfast," literally "able to stand," from stem of stare "to stand" (see stet). Physical sense of "secure against falling" is recorded from late 14c. Of nuclear isotopes, from 1904.

Word Origin and History for stable (2 of 3)

stable

"to put (a horse) in a stable," early 14c., from stable (n.). Related: Stabled; stabling.

Medicine definitions for stable

stable

[ stā′bəl ]

adj.

Resistant to change of position or condition.

Not subject to mental illness or irrationality.

Having no known mode of decay; indefinitely long-lived. Used of atomic particles.

Not easily decomposed or otherwise modified chemically.

Science definitions for stable

stable

[ stā′bəl ]

Not susceptible to a process of decay, such as radioactivity. For example, the most common isotope of carbon, carbon 12, is stable. Protons and photons are examples of stable subatomic particles. See more at decay.

Relating to a chemical compound that does not easily decompose or change into other compounds. Water is an example of a stable compound.

Relating to an atom or chemical element that is unlikely to share electrons with another atom or element.

Not likely to change significantly or to deteriorate suddenly, as an individual's medical condition.

Idioms and Phrases with stable

stable

see lock the barn (stable) door after the horse has bolted.

stable

noun

verb (used with object), sta·bled, sta·bling.

verb (used without object), sta·bled, sta·bling.

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of stable

Definition for stable (2 of 2)

stable

adjective, sta·bler, sta·blest.

Origin of stable

Examples from the Web for stable

British Dictionary definitions for stable (1 of 2)

stable

noun

verb

Word Origin for stable

British Dictionary definitions for stable (2 of 2)

stable

adjective

Word Origin for stable

Word Origin and History for stable (1 of 3)

stable

Word Origin and History for stable (1 of 3)

stable

Word Origin and History for stable (2 of 3)

stable

Medicine definitions for stable

stable

adj.

Science definitions for stable

stable

Idioms and Phrases with stable

stable