stare: Meaning and Definition of

stare

Pronunciation: (stâr), [key]
— v., n. stared, star•ing,
—v.i.
  1. to gaze fixedly and intently, esp. with the eyes wide open.
  2. to be boldly or obtrusively conspicuous: The bright modern painting stares out at you in the otherwise conservative gallery.
  3. (of hair, feathers, etc.) to stand on end; bristle.
—v.t.
  1. to stare at: to stare a person up and down.
  2. to effect or have a certain effect on by staring: to stare one out of countenance.
  3. to cause to become uncomfortable by gazing steadily at one; overcome by staring: A nonsmoker at the next table tried to stare me down.
  4. to be urgent or impending; confront: The income-tax deadline is staring us in the face.
—n.
  1. a staring gaze; a fixed look with the eyes wide open: The banker greeted him with a glassy stare.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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