# stole

/ˈstoʊɫ/ (US) · /stˈəʊl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stole
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. a long scarf or wrap

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- She wore a silk stole over her evening dress to stay warm at the wedding.
- The actress arrived on the red carpet draped in a vintage mink stole that complemented her floor-length velvet gown.

### 3. ceremonial or religious band

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- The priest wore a green stole for the Sunday morning service.
- During the commencement ceremony, each graduate was presented with a silk stole embroidered with the university's official crest.

### 4. a creeping plant stem

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

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

## Examples

- She wore a white silk stole over her dress.
- The graduate draped a colorful stole over her gown to represent her academic achievements.
- The actress arrived at the premiere draped in a vintage mink stole that complemented her floor-length velvet gown.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.