continuing or remaining in a place or state
"they had a nice stay in Paris"
"a lengthy hospital stay"
"a four-month stay in bankruptcy court"
a judicial order forbidding some action until an event occurs or the order is lifted
"the Supreme Court has the power to stay an injunction pending an appeal to the whole Court"
a thin strip of metal or bone that is used to stiffen a garment (e.g. a corset)
"The tailor carefully inserted a steel stay into the back of the old-fashioned dress to keep it from sagging."
(nautical) brace consisting of a heavy rope or wire cable used as a support for a mast or spar
"The ship's captain ordered the crew to tighten the main stay before they set sail into the storm."
Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time; sojourn.
"The sailor quickly tied off the stay to secure the mainsail against the sudden gusts of wind."
A prop; a support.
A strong rope or wire supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.
In plain English: A stay is a temporary pause or break from doing something difficult.
"They decided to extend their stay in Paris for another week."
stay put (in a certain place)
"We are staying in Detroit; we are not moving to Cincinnati"
"Stay put in the corner here!"
"Stick around and you will learn something!"
fasten with stays
"The sailor quickly stayed his mast before the storm hit to keep it from collapsing under the wind pressure."
To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.
"The old sailing ship was reinforced so that its masts would not collapse in the stormy winds."
To brace or support with a stay or stays
In plain English: To stay means to remain in one place or continue doing something without leaving.
Usage: Use this meaning of stay only when describing an object that physically props something else upright, such as staying the mast or staying a door open against wind. It is not used for people remaining in one place or enduring difficulties without physical leverage.
Steep; ascending.
"The steep, ascending path stayed our breath as we climbed toward the summit."
"The room was not a stay place for anyone who wanted privacy."
Steeply.
"The road stayed steep all the way to the mountain peak, making it nearly impossible for my car to climb."
In plain English: Stay as an adverb means to remain in the same place without moving.
"Please stay inside until the rain stops."
A surname.
"The neighbors introduced themselves as Mr. and Mrs. Stay, who had lived in the house for three generations."
The word "stay" comes from Old French and Middle Dutch words meaning "to prop up or support." It entered English via the idea of fixing something in place, which evolved into its modern sense of remaining in one location.