Dictionary.com
definitions

stable

1
[stey-buhl]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR stable ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

RELATED CONTENT

More Than Trippy: Our Favorite Viral Optical Illusions Explained
What’s not to love about optical illusions? The magical, mysterious, mind-bending visuals never cease to evoke a series of ‘“woahs” and “what the’s--.” Words usually fail to describe them. Yet, one common word that is often used is trippy, hearkening to the psychedelic days of the ‘60s and ‘70s. But, believe it or not, the first optical illusions emerged far earlier, in the 5th century B.C. They even had Aristotle bumfuzzled! From Medieval Latin, opticus means “of sight or seeing” and ludere, “to play”—thus, optical illusions are visuals that essentially “play with one’s sight.” Because these images are invested with such mysterious power, we think optical illusions are some of the coolest didactic devices known to man. They’re brilliant to look at, and they teach us to question everything. So, to honor these powerful images, we want to share with you their proper names—because, honestly, trippy only holds up in the basement. Get your brains and eyeballs ready. They will be boggled.
READ MORE
Soylent Green
Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

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

Origin of stable

1
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 for stable

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR stable ON THESAURUS.COM
1. barn, mews.

stable

2
[stey-buhl]

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

2
1225–75; Middle English < Old French estable < Latin stabilis stabile
Related formssta·ble·ness, nounsta·bly, adverb

Synonyms for stable

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR stable ON THESAURUS.COM
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. 2019

Examples from the Web for stable

Contemporary Examples of stable

Historical Examples of stable

  • 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

stable

1

noun

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

stable

2

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
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]
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.

v.

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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.
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.

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