station
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a place where trains or buses regularly stop for passengers to get on or off.
n.a designated stopping place for public transport, typically featuring infrastructure for passenger boarding and alighting.
Simple“We met at the train station ten minutes before the express arrived.”
In context“The central station serves as a major transit hub, connecting the metropolitan subway system with long-distance rail networks.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.a building used by a specific organization, like the police or the fire department.
n.a headquarters or base of operations for a specific public service or utility.
Simple“The police station is located right next to the town hall.”
In context“The fire station dispatched three engines immediately after the emergency call was logged by the dispatcher.”
Synonyms - 03 A2 Elementary
n.a company or channel that sends out radio or television programmes.
n.an establishment equipped for radio or television transmission.
Simple“She listens to a local radio station that plays music from the eighties.”
In context“The television station announced a change in its evening programming to accommodate the breaking news coverage.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a person's social position or status in society.
n.the social standing, rank, or position of an individual within a hierarchy.
Simple“In the old days, people were expected to marry someone of their own station.”
In context“Despite his humble origins, he eventually achieved a station in life that commanded respect from the city's elite.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a very large farm for sheep or cattle, especially in Australia or New Zealand.
n.a large pastoral landholding for raising livestock, particularly sheep or cattle.
Simple“They spent the summer working on a remote sheep station in the outback.”
In context“Managing a cattle station of that size requires significant logistical planning and a large team of seasonal workers.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is specific to Australian and New Zealand English; American speakers would typically use 'ranch'.
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to send someone to a specific place to work or wait, especially in the military.
v.to assign a person, especially military personnel, to a particular post or location.
Simple“The guards were stationed at every entrance to the palace.”
In context“The regiment was stationed along the border for six months during the peacekeeping mission.”
UsageUsually used in the passive voice ('be stationed').
From Middle English stacioun, borrowed from Anglo-Norman estation, from Latin statiōnem, accusative of statiō (“standing, post, job, position”), whence also Italian stazione. Doublet of stagione. Cognate with Ancient Greek ἵστημι (hístēmi), στάσις (stásis), Old English standan (whence English stand).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.