ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stare

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈstɛɹ// UK //stˈeə// stare Archaic General-service

n. a long, steady look at someone or something. You usually do this when you are surprised, curious, or being a bit rude.

n. a prolonged, fixed look with eyes wide open. Often implies intensity, curiosity, or a lack of social manners.


SIMPLE

She gave him a long, cold stare.

CONTEXTUAL

The child's curious stare made the stranger feel a bit uncomfortable during the bus ride.

COMPLEX

He met her icy stare with a calm expression, refusing to look away until she finally broke the silence and continued the meeting.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English staren, from Old English starian (“to stare”), from Proto-West Germanic starēn, from Proto-Germanic starjaną, starāną (“to be fixed, be rigid”), from Proto-Indo-European ster-. Cognate with Dutch staren (“to stare”), German starren (“to stare”), German starr (“stiff”). More at start.

Etymology 2

From Middle English star, ster, from Old English stær (“starling”), from Proto-Germanic starô (“starling”), from Proto-Indo-European stor- (“starling”). Cognate with German Star (“starling”), Danish stær (“starling”), Swedish stare (“starling”), Norwegian Nynorsk stare (“starling”), Icelandic stari (“starling”). Compare also Old English stearn (“a type of bird, starling”).

Usage

Often paired with the verbs 'give' or 'meet' and the preposition 'at'.

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