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1 ADJ If something such as a business or society is stagnant , there is little activity or change. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  He is seeking advice on how to revive the stagnant economy. □  Mass movements are often a factor in the awakening and renovation of stagnant societies.

2 ADJ Stagnant water is not flowing, and therefore often smells unpleasant and is dirty.

stag|nate /stægne I t, [AM ] stæ gne I t/ (stagnates , stagnating , stagnated ) VERB If something such as a business or society stagnates , it stops changing or progressing. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V ] Industrial production is stagnating. ●  stag|na|tion /stægne I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the stagnation of the steel industry.

sta g night (stag nights ) N‑COUNT A stag night is a party for a man who is getting married very soon, to which only men are invited.

sta g par|ty (stag parties ) N‑COUNT A stag party is the same as a stag night .

staid /ste I d/ ADJ If you say that someone or something is staid , you mean that they are serious, dull, and rather old-fashioned. □  …a staid seaside resort.

stain /ste I n/ (stains , staining , stained )

1 N‑COUNT A stain is a mark on something that is difficult to remove. □  Remove stains by soaking in a mild solution of bleach. □  …a black stain.

2 VERB If a liquid stains something, the thing becomes coloured or marked by the liquid. □ [V n] Some foods can stain the teeth, as of course can smoking. ●  stained ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □  His clothing was stained with mud. ●  -stained COMB □  …ink-stained fingers.

stai ned gla ss also stained-glass N‑UNCOUNT Stained glass consists of pieces of glass of different colours which are fixed together to make decorative windows or other objects.

stain|less steel /ste I nləs stiː l/ N‑UNCOUNT Stainless steel is a metal made from steel and chromium which does not rust. □  …a stainless steel sink.

stair /steə ^r / (stairs )

1 N‑PLURAL Stairs are a set of steps inside a building which go from one floor to another. □  Nancy began to climb the stairs. □  We walked up a flight of stairs. □  He stopped at the top of the stairs. □  …a stair carpet.

2 N‑COUNT A stair is one of the steps in a flight of stairs. □  Terry was sitting on the bottom stair.

stair|case /steə ^r ke I s/ (staircases ) N‑COUNT A staircase is a set of stairs inside a building. □  They walked down the staircase together.

stair|lift /steə ^r l I ft/ also stair lift (stairlifts ) N‑COUNT A stairlift is a device that is fitted to a staircase in a house in order to allow an elderly or sick person to go upstairs.

stair|way /steə ^r we I / (stairways ) N‑COUNT A stairway is a staircase or a flight of steps, inside or outside a building.

stair|well /steə ^r wel/ (stairwells ) N‑COUNT The stairwell is the part of a building that contains the staircase.

stake ◆◆◇ /ste I k/ (stakes , staking , staked )

1 PHRASE If something is at stake , it is being risked and might be lost or damaged if you are not successful. □  The tension was naturally high for a game with so much at stake. □  At stake is the success or failure of world trade talks.

2 N‑PLURAL The stakes involved in a contest or a risky action are the things that can be gained or lost. □  By arresting the organisation's leaders the government has raised the stakes.

3 VERB If you stake something such as your money or your reputation on the result of something, you risk your money or reputation on it. □ [V n + on ] He has staked his political future on an election victory.