English Reference
noun

stole

n.
US /ˈstoʊɫ/ UK /stˈəʊl/ stole UK spelling stole's, stole's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a long, wide piece of cloth or fur that a woman wears around her shoulders.

    a woman's long scarf or shawl, typically made of expensive fabric or fur, worn draped over the shoulders.

    Simple

    She wore a silk stole over her evening dress to stay warm at the wedding.

    In context

    The actress arrived on the red carpet draped in a vintage mink stole that complemented her floor-length velvet gown.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal Religion

    a long strip of cloth worn around the neck by priests or during graduation ceremonies.

    an ecclesiastical vestment consisting of a narrow strip of silk or other material worn over the shoulders; also used in academic dress.

    Simple

    The priest wore a green stole for the Sunday morning service.

    In context

    During the commencement ceremony, each graduate was presented with a silk stole embroidered with the university's official crest.

    vestmentsash
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a stem that grows along the ground and creates new roots.

    a horizontal branch or runner from the base of a plant that produces new plants from buds at its tip or nodes.

    Simple

    The strawberry plant spreads across the garden by sending out a stole.

    In context

    The botanist observed how the species utilised a stole to colonise the surrounding soil, effectively bypassing the need for seed dispersal.

    Usage

    In modern botany, 'stolon' is the standard term; 'stole' is an older or more literary variant.

    stolonrunner

Etymology 1

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Etymology 2

From Old English stole, from Latin stola, from Ancient Greek στολή (stolḗ, “stole, garment, equipment”); akin to stall. Doublet of stola.

Etymology 3

From Latin stolō. Doublet of stolon.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated