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stable1

[stey-buhl]
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noun
  1. a building for the lodging and feeding of horses, cattle, etc.
  2. such a building with stalls.
  3. a collection of animals housed in such a building.
  4. Horse Racing.
    1. an establishment where racehorses are kept and trained.
    2. the horses belonging to, or the persons connected with, such an establishment.
  5. Informal.
    1. 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.
    2. the establishment that trains or manages such a group of people: two boxers from the same stable.
    3. 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.
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verb (used with object), sta·bled, sta·bling.
  1. to put or lodge in or as if in a stable.
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verb (used without object), sta·bled, sta·bling.
  1. to live in or as if in a stable.
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Origin of stable1

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

Synonyms

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1. barn, mews.

stable2

[stey-buhl]
adjective, sta·bler, sta·blest.
  1. not likely to fall or give way, as a structure, support, foundation, etc.; firm; steady.
  2. able or likely to continue or last; firmly established; enduring or permanent: a stable government.
  3. resistant to sudden change or deterioration: A stable economy is the aim of every government.
  4. steadfast; not wavering or changeable, as in character or purpose; dependable.
  5. not subject to emotional instability or illness; sane; mentally sound.
  6. Physics. having the ability to react to a disturbing force by maintaining or reestablishing position, form, etc.
  7. Chemistry. not readily decomposing, as a compound; resisting molecular or chemical change.
  8. (of a patient's condition) exhibiting no significant change.
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Origin of stable2

1225–75; Middle English < Old French estable < Latin stabilis stabile
Related formssta·ble·ness, nounsta·bly, adverb

Synonyms

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1. fixed, strong, sturdy. 4. invariable, unvarying, staunch, constant, reliable, steady, solid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

secure, solid, durable, safe, steady, fast, permanent, calm, balanced, strong, substantial, reliable, lasting, even, established, set, tough, stout, invariable, uniform

Examples from the Web for stable

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The new mare and the dog-cart in charge of the stable lad were there, but no Dick.

    Viviette

    William J. Locke

  • "Give this to Mr. Ware," she said to the stable boy as she prepared to get into the dog-cart.

    Viviette

    William J. Locke

  • When Sidney saw the outline of the stable roof, she knew that it was dawn.

    K

    Mary Roberts Rinehart

  • When I went to the stable to get him he wasn't worth much, Andy—he was dead.

    Thoroughbreds

    W. A. Fraser

  • She always turned in that cross manner from Shandy, the stable boy.

    Thoroughbreds

    W. A. Fraser

British Dictionary definitions for stable

stable1

noun
  1. a building, usually consisting of stalls, for the lodging of horses or other livestock
  2. the animals lodged in such a building, collectively
    1. the racehorses belonging to a particular establishment or owner
    2. the establishment itself
    3. (as modifier)stable companion
  4. informal a source of training, such as a school, theatre, etcthe two athletes were out of the same stable
  5. a number of people considered as a source of a particular talenta stable of writers
  6. (modifier) of, relating to, or suitable for a stablestable manners
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verb
  1. to put, keep, or be kept in a stable
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Word Origin

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

stable2

adjective
  1. steady in position or balance; firm
  2. lasting or permanenta stable relationship
  3. steadfast or firm of purpose
  4. (of an elementary particle, atomic nucleus, etc) not undergoing decay; not radioactivea stable nuclide
  5. (of a chemical compound) not readily partaking in a chemical change
  6. (of electronic equipment) with no tendency to self-oscillation
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Derived Formsstableness, nounstably, adverb

Word Origin

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

n.

"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]
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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.

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v.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
stable in Medicine

stable

(stā′bəl)
adj.
  1. Resistant to change of position or condition.
  2. Not subject to mental illness or irrationality.
  3. Having no known mode of decay; indefinitely long-lived. Used of atomic particles.
  4. Not easily decomposed or otherwise modified chemically.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
stable in Science

stable

[stā′bəl]
  1. 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.
  2. Relating to a chemical compound that does not easily decompose or change into other compounds. Water is an example of a stable compound.
  3. Relating to an atom or chemical element that is unlikely to share electrons with another atom or element.
  4. Not likely to change significantly or to deteriorate suddenly, as an individual's medical condition.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Idioms and Phrases with stable

stable

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

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.