stay

Definition of stay

Pronunciation

• enPR: stā, IPA(key): /steɪ/
• Rhymes: -eɪ

Noun

stay ‎(plural stays)

1. (law) Two types of court order, either of which may be called simply a stay:
   • stay of execution, a ruling to temporarily suspend the enforcement of a court judgment - often, but not always, referring to a stay of a death sentence
   • stay of proceedings, a ruling halting further legal process in a trial
2. A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.
   
   The governor granted a stay of execution.

Verb

stay ‎(third-person singular simple present stays, present participle staying, simple past and past participle stayed)

1. (transitive) To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.
   
   The governor stayed the execution until the appeal could be heard.‎