The difference between Mainstay and Stay

When used as nouns, mainstay means a chief support, whereas stay means continuance or a period of time spent in a place.

Stay is also adverb with the meaning: steeply.

Stay is also verb with the meaning: to prop.

Stay is also adjective with the meaning: steep.

check bellow for the other definitions of Mainstay and Stay

  1. Mainstay as a noun:

    A chief support.

    Examples:

    "Agriculture is the mainstay of this country’s economy."

  2. Mainstay as a noun:

    Someone or something that can be depended on to make a regular contribution.

  3. Mainstay as a noun (nautical):

    A stabilising rope from the top of the mainmast to the bottom of the foremast.

  1. Stay as a verb (transitive):

    To prop; support; sustain; hold up; steady.

  2. Stay as a verb (transitive):

    To support from sinking; to sustain with strength; to satisfy in part or for the time.

  3. Stay as a verb (transitive):

    To stop; detain; keep back; delay; hinder.

  4. Stay as a verb (transitive):

    To restrain; withhold; check; stop.

  5. Stay as a verb (transitive):

    To cause to cease; to put an end to.

  6. Stay as a verb (transitive):

    To put off; defer; postpone; delay; keep back.

    Examples:

    "The governor stayed the execution until the appeal could be heard."

  7. Stay as a verb (transitive):

    To hold the attention of.

  8. Stay as a verb (transitive, obsolete):

    To bear up under; to endure; to hold out against; to resist.

  9. Stay as a verb (transitive, obsolete):

    To wait for; await.

  10. Stay as a verb (transitive, obsolete):

    To remain for the purpose of; to wait for.

  11. Stay as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):

    To rest; depend; rely.

  12. Stay as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):

    To stop; come to a stand or standstill.

  13. Stay as a verb (intransitive, archaic):

    To come to an end; cease.

    Examples:

    "That day the storm stayed."

  14. Stay as a verb (intransitive, archaic):

    To dwell; linger; tarry; wait.

  15. Stay as a verb (intransitive, dated):

    To make a stand; to stand firm.

  16. Stay as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):

    To hold out, as in a race or contest; last or persevere to the end.

    Examples:

    "That horse stays well."

  17. Stay as a verb (intransitive):

    To remain in a particular place, especially for a definite or short period of time; sojourn; abide.

    Examples:

    "We stayed in Hawaii for a week.  I can only stay for an hour."

  18. Stay as a verb (intransitive, obsolete):

    To wait; rest in patience or expectation.

  19. Stay as a verb (intransitive, obsolete, used with ''on'' or ''upon''):

    To wait as an attendant; give ceremonious or submissive attendance.

  20. Stay as a verb (intransitive):

    To continue to have a particular quality.

    Examples:

    "Wear gloves so your hands stay warm."

  21. Stay as a verb (intransitive, US South, AAVE, colloquial, non-standard):

    To live; reside

    Examples:

    "Hey, where do you stay at?"

  1. Stay as a noun:

    Continuance or a period of time spent in a place; abode for an indefinite time; sojourn.

    Examples:

    "I hope you enjoyed your stay in Hawaii."

  2. Stay as a noun:

    A postponement, especially of an execution or other punishment.

    Examples:

    "The governor granted a stay of execution."

  3. Stay as a noun (archaic):

    A stop; a halt; a break or cessation of action, motion, or progress.

    Examples:

    "stand at a stay"

  4. Stay as a noun:

    A fixed state; fixedness; stability; permanence.

  5. Stay as a noun (nautical):

    A station or fixed anchorage for vessels.

  6. Stay as a noun:

    Restraint of passion; prudence; moderation; caution; steadiness; sobriety.

  7. Stay as a noun (obsolete):

    Hindrance; let; check.

  1. Stay as a noun:

    A prop; a support.

  2. Stay as a noun:

    A piece of stiff material, such as plastic or whalebone, used to stiffen a piece of clothing.

    Examples:

    "Where are the stays for my collar?"

  3. Stay as a noun:

    (plural) A corset

  4. Stay as a noun (archaic):

    A fastening for a garment; a hook; a clasp; anything to hang another thing on.

  1. Stay as a noun (nautical):

    A strong rope supporting a mast, and leading from one masthead down to some other, or other part of the vessel.

  2. Stay as a noun:

    A guy, rope, or wire supporting or stabilizing a platform, such as a bridge, a pole, such as a tentpole, the mast of a derrick, or other structural element.

    Examples:

    "The engineer insisted on using stays for the scaffolding."

  3. Stay as a noun (chain-cable):

    The transverse piece in a link.

  1. Stay as a verb:

    To brace or support with a stay or stays

    Examples:

    "stay a mast"

  2. Stay as a verb (transitive, nautical):

    To incline forward, aft, or to one side by means of stays.

  3. Stay as a verb (transitive, nautical):

    To tack; put on the other tack.

    Examples:

    "to stay ship"

  4. Stay as a verb (intransitive, nautical):

    To change; tack; go about; be in stays, as a ship.

  1. Stay as an adjective (UK, _, dialectal):

    Steep; ascending.

  2. Stay as an adjective (UK, _, dialectal):

    Steeply pitched.

  3. Stay as an adjective (UK, _, dialectal):

    Difficult to negotiate; not easy to access; sheer.

  4. Stay as an adjective (UK, _, dialectal):

    Stiff; upright; unbending; reserved; haughty; proud.

  1. Stay as an adverb (UK, _, dialectal):

    Steeply.

Compare words:

Compare with synonyms and related words: