Word forms: comparative stabler, superlative stablest, plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, plural stables, present participle stabling, past tense, past participle stabled
1. adjective
If something is stable, it is not likely to change or come to an end suddenly.
The price of oil should remain stable for the rest of the year.
...a stable marriage.
Synonyms: secure, lasting, strong, sound More Synonyms of stable
stability (stəbɪlɪti)uncountable noun
It was a time of political stability and progress.
Synonyms: firmness, strength, soundness, durability More Synonyms of stable
2. adjective
If someone has a stable personality, they are calm and reasonable and their mood does not change suddenly.
Their characters are fully formed and they are both very stable children.
Synonyms: well-balanced, balanced, sensible, reasonable More Synonyms of stable
3. adjective
You can describe someone who is seriously ill as stable when their condition has stopped getting worse.
The injured man was in a stable condition.
4. adjective
Chemical substances are described as stable when they tend to remain in the same chemical or atomic state.
[technical]
Cordite was a particularly stable compound.
5. adjective
If an object is stable, it is firmly fixed in position and is not likely to move or fall.
This structure must be stable.
Synonyms: solid, firm, secure, fixed More Synonyms of stable
6. countable noun
A stable or stables is a building in which horses are kept.
7. countable noun
A stable or stables is an organization that breeds and trains horses for racing.
Miss Curling won on two horses from Mick Trickey's stable.
8. verb [usually passive]
When horses are stabled, they are put into a stable.
The animals had been fed and stabled. [beVERB-ed]
You should allow your stabled horse a couple of hours' freedom per day. [VERB-ed]
9. countable noun [with supplement, usually NOUNof noun]
You can say that someone has a stableof people when they manage and promote the careers of that group of people.
As chief executive, he assembled a polished stable of celebrities.
10.
See to close the stable door after the horse has bolted
stable in British English1
(ˈsteɪbəl)
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
3.
a.
the racehorses belonging to a particular establishment or owner
b.
the establishment itself
c.
(as modifier)
stable companion
4. informal
a source of training, such as a school, theatre, etc
the two athletes were out of the same stable
5.
a number of people considered as a source of a particular talent
a stable of writers
6. (modifier)
of, relating to, or suitable for a stable
stable manners
verb
7.
to put, keep, or be kept in a stable
Word origin
C13: from Old French estable cowshed, from Latin stabulum shed, from stāre to stand
stable in British English2
(ˈsteɪbəl)
adjective
1.
steady in position or balance; firm
2.
lasting or permanent
a stable relationship
3.
steadfast or firm of purpose
4.
(of an elementary particle, atomic nucleus, etc) not undergoing decay; not radioactive
a stable nuclide
5.
(of a chemical compound) not readily partaking in a chemical change
6.
(of electronic equipment) with no tendency to self-oscillation
Derived forms
stableness (ˈstableness)
noun
stably (ˈstably)
adverb
Word origin
C13: from Old French estable, from Latin stabilis steady, from stāre to stand
stable in American English1
(ˈsteɪbəl)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈstabler or ˈstablest
1.
a.
not easily moved or thrown off balance; firm; steady
b.
not likely to break down, fall apart, or give way; fixed
2.
a.
firm in character, purpose, or resolution; steadfast
b.
reliable, dependable
3.
not likely to change or be affected adversely; lasting; enduring
4.
a.
emotionally steady; composed; self-possessed
b.
mentally sound; sane; rational
5.
capable of returning to equilibrium or original position after having been displaced
6. Chemistry and Physics
a.
not readily decomposing or changing from one state of matter to another
b.
not undergoing spontaneous change
7. Nuclear Physics
incapable of radioactive decay
Derived forms
stably (ˈstably)
adverb
Word origin
ME < OFr estable < L stabilis < stare, to stand
stable in American English2
(ˈsteɪbəl)
noun
1.
a.
a building in which horses or cattle are sheltered and fed
b.
a group of animals kept or belonging in such a building
2.
a.
all the racehorses belonging to one owner
b.
the people employed to take care of and train such a group of racehorses
3. Informal
all the athletes, writers, performers, etc. under one management, with one agent, etc.
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈstabled or ˈstabling
4.
to lodge, keep, or be kept in or as in a stable
Word origin
ME < OFr estable < L stabulum < stare, to stand
More idioms containing
stable
closing the stable door after the horse has bolted
Examples of 'stable' in a sentence
stable
Finding work for them and helping such people maintain stable relationships are the key.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The figures have remained relatively stable for four years.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The horse in the stable may be trained to follow a scent.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
Fortune has suddenly abandoned the champion jockey and his stable.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The same trend will produce more independents and make political careers less stable.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why did the king need two sets of stables?
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
The twins were in hospital last night in a serious but stable condition.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yet this story cuts still deeper than disgrace for the biggest global stable racing has known.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The second part of the year is much more stable and calm.
The Sun (2014)
Some lose the ability to form stable relationships and this dogs them for life.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The demographic measures throughout all organisations entering remain very stable with little change from last year.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Stable building carried on during the morning.
The Sun (2014)
He will find similarities in a prudent club looking for stable management and steady improvement.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My stable of men keep me busy.
The Sun (2006)
Your constant qualities should typically remain stable or improve.
Evans, Andrew The Secrets of Musical Confidence (1994)
Ours was one of nine in a converted stable block and around their own courtyard.
The Sun (2016)
Then you would have more stable marriages.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The property also comes with a stable block.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Total betting shop numbers have remained stable at 8,500 for the past decade.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Stable and hard-working people are easier to engage.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A visit to the stable ended that tour.
Christianity Today (2000)
These are not backward continental ways; they are the global norm for stable relations between owners and managers.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The owner of the stables has refused to pay so we went back to court in December last year and were awarded costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Not surprisingly, it showed that strong, stable relationships brought lasting contentment.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
stable
British English: stable /ˈsteɪbl/ ADJECTIVE
If something is stable, it is not likely to change or come to an end suddenly.
The price of oil has remained stable this month.
American English: stable
Arabic: مُسْتَقِرّ
Brazilian Portuguese: estável
Chinese: 稳定的
Croatian: stabilan
Czech: stabilní
Danish: stabil
Dutch: stabiel
European Spanish: estable
Finnish: vakaa
French: stable
German: standfest
Greek: σταθερός
Italian: stabile
Japanese: 安定した
Korean: 안정된
Norwegian: stabil
Polish: stały solidny
European Portuguese: estável
Romanian: stabil
Russian: стабильный
Latin American Spanish: estable
Swedish: stabil
Thai: มั่นคง
Turkish: dengede
Ukrainian: стабільний
Vietnamese: ổn định
British English: stable /ˈsteɪbl/ NOUN
A stable or stables is a building in which horses are kept.
American English: stable
Arabic: اِسْطَبْل
Brazilian Portuguese: estábulo
Chinese: 马厩
Croatian: štala
Czech: stáj
Danish: stald
Dutch: stal
European Spanish: cuadra
Finnish: talli
French: écurie
German: Stall
Greek: σταύλος
Italian: scuderia
Japanese: 馬小屋
Korean: 마구간
Norwegian: stall
Polish: stajnia
European Portuguese: estábulo
Romanian: grajd
Russian: конюшня
Latin American Spanish: cuadra
Swedish: stall
Thai: คอกม้า
Turkish: ahır
Ukrainian: конюшня
Vietnamese: chuồng ngựa
All related terms of 'stable'
stable boy
A stable boy is a young man who works in a stable looking after the horses .
stable door
a door with an upper and lower leaf that may be opened separately
stable fly
a blood-sucking muscid fly, Stomoxys calcitrans , that attacks humans and domestic animals
stable girl
A stable girl is a young woman who works in a stable looking after the horses.
stable lad
A stable lad is the same as a → stable boy .
livery stable
a stable where horses are accommodated and from which they may be hired out
riding stable
a place where horses are kept for people to ride
stable currency
The money used in a particular country is referred to as its currency .
stable footing
If something is put on a particular footing , it is defined , established, or changed in a particular way, often so that it is able to develop or exist successfully.
stable companion
a horse that shares the same stable as another horse
stable democracy
A democracy is a country in which the people choose their government by voting for it.
stable environment
Someone's environment is all the circumstances , people, things, and events around them that influence their life.
Dutch door
a door with an upper and lower leaf that may be opened separately
lock the stable door after the horse has bolted
to take precautions after harm has been done
closing the stable door after the horse has bolted
acting too late , because the problem that the action would have prevented has already occurred
to close the stable door after the horse has bolted
If you say that someone has closed or shut the stable door after the horse has bolted , you mean that they have tried to prevent something happening but they have done so too late to prevent damage being done.