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5 PHRASE If you say that someone has stabbed you in the back , you mean that they have done something very harmful to you when you thought that you could trust them. You can refer to an action of this kind as a stab in the back . □  She felt betrayed, as though her daughter had stabbed her in the back.

6a stab in the dark → see dark

stab|bing /stæ b I ŋ/ (stabbings )

1 N‑COUNT A stabbing is an incident in which someone stabs someone else with a knife.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] A stabbing pain is a sudden sharp pain. □  He was struck by a stabbing pain in his midriff.

sta|bil|ity /stəb I l I ti/ → see stable

sta|bi|lize /ste I b I la I z/ (stabilizes , stabilizing , stabilized ) in BRIT, also use stabilise VERB If something stabilizes , or is stabilized , it becomes stable. □ [V ] Although her illness is serious, her condition is beginning to stabilize. □ [V n] Officials hope the move will stabilize exchange rates. ●  sta|bi|li|za|tion /ste I b I la I ze I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the stabilisation of property prices.

sta|bi|li|zer /ste I b I la I zə ^r / (stabilizers ) in BRIT, also use stabiliser N‑COUNT A stabilizer is a device, mechanism, or chemical that makes something stable.

sta|ble ◆◆◇ /ste I b ^ə l/ (stabler , stablest , stables )

1 ADJ If something is stable , it is not likely to change or come to an end suddenly. □  The price of oil should remain stable for the rest of the year. □  …a stable marriage. ●  sta|bil|ity /stəb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □  It was a time of political stability and progress.

2 ADJ If someone has a stable personality, they are calm and reasonable and their mood does not change suddenly. □  Their characters are fully formed and they are both very stable children.

3 ADJ You can describe someone who is seriously ill as stable when their condition has stopped getting worse. □  The injured man was in a stable condition.

4 ADJ Chemical substances are described as stable when they tend to remain in the same chemical or atomic state. [TECHNICAL ] □  Cordite was a particularly stable compound.

5 ADJ If an object is stable , it is firmly fixed in position and is not likely to move or fall. □  This structure must be stable.

6 N‑COUNT A stable or stables is a building in which horses are kept.

7 N‑COUNT A stable or stables is an organization that breeds and trains horses for racing. □  Miss Curling won on two horses from Mick Trickey's stable.

8 VERB [usu passive] When horses are stabled , they are put into a stable. □ [be V -ed] The animals had been fed and stabled. SYNONYMS stable ADJ

1

secure:…trade union demands for secure wages and employment.

lasting:We are well on our way to a lasting peace.

strong:He felt he had a relationship strong enough to talk frankly to Sarah.

sound:When we bought the house, it was structurally sound.

2

well-balanced:…a fun-loving, well-balanced individual.

sensible:She was a sensible girl and did not panic.

reasonable:He's a reasonable sort of chap. ADJ 5

solid:Banks are built to look solid to reassure their customers.

firm:If you have to climb up, use a firm platform or a sturdy ladder.

secure:Shelves are only as secure as their fixings.

sta |ble boy (stable boys ) also stableboy N‑COUNT A stable boy is a young man who works in a stable looking after the horses.