stable

2 syllables

Quick answer

As a noun, stable means a building, wing or dependency set apart and adapted for lodging and feeding (and training) ungulates, especially horses. As a verb, it means put or keep (an animal) in a stable.

Meanings of stable

19 meanings

noun

A building, wing or dependency set apart and adapted for lodging and feeding (and training) ungulates, especially horses.
“There were stalls for fourteen horses in the squire's stables.”
metonymyAll the racehorses of a particular stable, i.e. belonging to a given owner.
ScotlandA set of advocates; a barristers' chambers.
sumoAn organization of sumo wrestlers who live and train together.
professional wrestlingA group of wrestlers who support each other within a wrestling storyline.
A group of prostitutes managed by one pimp.
A group of people who are looked after, mentored, or trained in one place or for a particular purpose or profession.
A farm building for housing horses or other livestock
Similar: stalls, horse barn

verb

To put or keep (an animal) in a stable.
To dwell in a stable.
rail transportTo park (a rail vehicle).

adjective

Relatively unchanging, steady, permanent; firmly fixed or established; consistent; not easily moved, altered, or destroyed.
“He was in a stable relationship.”
“a stable government”
computingOf software: established to be relatively free of bugs, as opposed to a beta version.
“You should download the 1.9 version of that video editing software: it is the latest stable version. The newer beta version has some bugs.”
computer scienceof a sorting algorithmThat maintains the relative order of items that compare as equal.
Resistant to change of position or condition
“a stable ladder”
“a stable peace”
“a stable relationship”
Firm and dependable; subject to little fluctuation
“the economy is stable”
Not taking part readily in chemical change
Maintaining equilibrium
Showing little if any change
“a static population”
Similar: static, unchanging