What does "station" mean?

1. (transport stop) a place where trains or buses regularly stop for passengers to get on or off. 2. (service building) a building used by a specific organization, like the police or the fire department. 3. (broadcasting) a company or channel that sends out radio or television programmes. 4. (social rank) a person's social position or status in society. 5. (large farm) a very large farm for sheep or cattle, especially in Australia or New Zealand. 6. (to assign a post) to send someone to a specific place to work or wait, especially in the military.

How do you use "station"?

Usually used in the passive voice ('be stationed').

station

n. · v.

US //ˈsteɪʃən// UK //stˈeɪʃən// sta·tion

1 transport stop (n.)
A1 Beginner

a place where trains or buses regularly stop for passengers to get on or off.

a designated stopping place for public transport, typically featuring infrastructure for passenger boarding and alighting.

Example

We met at the train station ten minutes before the express arrived.

Example

The central station serves as a major transit hub, connecting the metropolitan subway system with long-distance rail networks.
2 service building (n.)
A2 Elementary

a building used by a specific organization, like the police or the fire department.

a headquarters or base of operations for a specific public service or utility.

Example

The police station is located right next to the town hall.

Example

The fire station dispatched three engines immediately after the emergency call was logged by the dispatcher.

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3 broadcasting (n.)
A2 Elementary

a company or channel that sends out radio or television programmes.

an establishment equipped for radio or television transmission.

Example

She listens to a local radio station that plays music from the eighties.

Example

The television station announced a change in its evening programming to accommodate the breaking news coverage.
- channel
- broadcaster
4 social rank (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Literary

a person's social position or status in society.

the social standing, rank, or position of an individual within a hierarchy.

Example

In the old days, people were expected to marry someone of their own station.

Example

Despite his humble origins, he eventually achieved a station in life that commanded respect from the city's elite.
5 large farm (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate British English Dialect

a very large farm for sheep or cattle, especially in Australia or New Zealand.

a large pastoral landholding for raising livestock, particularly sheep or cattle.

Example

They spent the summer working on a remote sheep station in the outback.

Example

Managing a cattle station of that size requires significant logistical planning and a large team of seasonal workers.

Teacher's tip

This sense is specific to Australian and New Zealand English; American speakers would typically use 'ranch'.
6 to assign a post (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to send someone to a specific place to work or wait, especially in the military.

to assign a person, especially military personnel, to a particular post or location.

Example

The guards were stationed at every entrance to the palace.

Example

The regiment was stationed along the border for six months during the peacekeeping mission.

Usage

Usually used in the passive voice ('be stationed').

Origin

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).