Stage

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Stage, n. [OF. estage, F. étage, (assumed) LL. staticum, from L. stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Static.].

•  A floor or story of a house.  Wyclif.  [1913 Webster]
•  An elevated platform on which an orator may speak, a play be performed, an exhibition be presented, or the like.  [1913 Webster]
•  A floor elevated for the convenience of mechanical work, or the like; a scaffold; a staging.  [1913 Webster]
•  A platform, often floating, serving as a kind of wharf.  [1913 Webster]
•  The floor for scenic performances; hence, the theater; the playhouse; hence, also, the profession of representing dramatic compositions; the drama, as acted or exhibited.  [1913 Webster]

  "Knights, squires, and steeds, must enter on the stage."  [1913 Webster]

  "Lo! where the stage, the poor, degraded stage,
  Holds its warped mirror to a gaping age."  [1913 Webster]
•  A place where anything is publicly exhibited; the scene of any noted action or career; the spot where any remarkable affair occurs; as, politicians must live their lives on the public stage.  [1913 Webster]

  "When we are born, we cry that we are come
  To this great stage of fools."  [1913 Webster]

  "Music and ethereal mirth
  Wherewith the stage of air and earth did ring."  [1913 Webster]
•  The platform of a microscope, upon which an object is placed to be viewed. See Illust. of Microscope.  [1913 Webster]
•  A place of rest on a regularly traveled road; a stage house; a station; a place appointed for a relay of horses.  [1913 Webster]
•  A degree of advancement in a journey; one of several portions into which a road or course is marked off; the distance between two places of rest on a road; as, a stage of ten miles.  [1913 Webster]

  "A stage . . . signifies a certain distance on a road."  [1913 Webster]

  "He traveled by gig, with his wife, his favorite horse performing the journey by easy stages."  [1913 Webster]
•  A degree of advancement in any pursuit, or of progress toward an end or result.  [1913 Webster]

  "Such a polity is suited only to a particular stage in the progress of society."  [1913 Webster]
•  A large vehicle running from station to station for the accommodation of the public; a stagecoach; an omnibus.  Cowper.  [1913 Webster]

  "I went in the sixpenny stage."  [1913 Webster]
•  One of several marked phases or periods in the development and growth of many animals and plants; as, the larval stage; pupa stage; zœa stage.  [1913 Webster]

Stage box, a box close to the stage in a theater. -- Stage carriage, a stagecoach. -- Stage door, the actors' and workmen's entrance to a theater. -- Stage lights, the lights by which the stage in a theater is illuminated. -- Stage micrometer, a graduated device applied to the stage of a microscope for measuring the size of an object. -- Stage wagon, a wagon which runs between two places for conveying passengers or goods. -- Stage whisper, a loud whisper, as by an actor in a theater, supposed, for dramatic effect, to be unheard by one or more of his fellow actors, yet audible to the audience; an aside.

Stage, v. t. 

 To exhibit upon a stage, or as upon a stage; to display publicly.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Stage, n. & v.
--n.
1 a point or period in a process or development (reached a critical stage; is in the larval stage).
2 a a raised floor or platform, esp. one on which plays etc. are performed before an audience. b (prec. by the) the acting or theatrical profession, dramatic art or literature, the drama. c the scene of action (the stage of politics). d = landing-stage.
3 a a regular stopping-place on a route. b the distance between two stopping-places. c Brit. = fare-stage.
4 Astronaut. a section of a rocket with a separate engine, jettisoned when its propellant is exhausted.
5 Geol. a range of strata forming a subdivision of a series.
6 Electronics a single amplifying transistor or valve with the associated equipment.
7 the surface on which an object is placed for inspection through a microscope.
--v.tr.
1 present (a play etc.) on stage.
2 arrange the occurrence of (staged a demonstration; staged a comeback).

Idiom

go on the stage become an actor. hold the stage dominate a conversation etc. stage direction an instruction in the text of a play as to the movement, position, tone, etc., of an actor, or sound effects etc. stage door an actors' and workmen's entrance from the street to a theatre behind the stage. stage effect
1 an effect produced in acting or on the stage.
2 an artificial or theatrical effect produced in real life. stage fright nervousness on facing an audience esp. for the first time. stage-hand a person handling scenery etc. during a performance on stage. stage left (or right) on the left (or right) side of the stage, facing the audience.
stage-manage
1 be the stage-manager of.
2 arrange and control for effect. stage-management the job or craft of a stage-manager. stage-manager the person responsible for lighting and other mechanical arrangements for a play etc. stage name a name assumed for professional purposes by an actor. stage play a play performed on stage rather than broadcast etc. stage rights exclusive rights to perform a particular play. stage-struck filled with an inordinate desire to go on the stage.
stage whisper
1 an aside.
2 a loud whisper meant to be heard by others than the person addressed.

Derivative

stageable adj. stageability n. stager n.

Etymology

ME f. OF estage dwelling ult. f. L stare stand

THESAURUS

Stage

Broadway, L, R, acting, acting area, agora, amphitheater, apron, apron stage, arena, athletic field, auditorium, autobus, back, backdrop, background, backstage, balcony, band, band shell, bandstand, be a gas, be a hit, bear garden, bed, bedding, belt, bill, board, boards, bomb, bowl, boxing ring, bridge, bring out, bull ring, burlesque, bus, cab, campus, canvas, carnival, caste, catafalque, chartered bus, circus, class, cockpit, coliseum, colosseum, concoct, condition, contrive, couche, coulisse, course, dais, day, deck, devise, diligence, distance, division, do, dock, double-decker, drama, dramatize, dressing room, echafaudage, echelon, emplacement, entertainment industry, estrade, execute, exhibit, fail, fake, fateful moment, feature, field, flies, floor, flop, fly floor, fly gallery, footing, footlights, forestage, forum, gallery, give, grade, greenroom, grid, gridiron, ground, gym, gymnasium, hack, hall, headline, heliport, hierarchy, hinterland, hippodrome, hired car, hour, hustings, instant, interval, jitney, juncture, kairos, landing, landing pad, landing stage, lap, launching pad, layer, ledge, legit, legitimate stage, level, lightboard, lists, locale, mail coach, make a hit, make up, manipulate, marketplace, mat, measures, melodramatize, milieu, minute, mise-en-scene, moment, moment of truth, motor coach, motorbus, mount, notch, off Broadway, off-off-Broadway, omnibus, open, open a show, open forum, orchestra, orchestra pit, order, organize, originate, overlayer, overstory, palaestra, parade ground, perform, performing area, period, phase, pit, place, platform, play, playland, podium, point, position, post coach, power structure, precedence, precinct, pregnant moment, premiere, present, preview, prize ring, produce, proscenium, proscenium stage, psychological moment, public square, pulpit, purlieu, put on, range, rank, rate, rating, rear, repertory drama, ring, rostrum, rung, scaffold, scaffolding, scenarize, scene, scene of action, scenery, seam, season, set the stage, setting, shelf, shell, show, show biz, show business, site, situation, soapbox, space, span, spell, sphere, spot, squared circle, stadium, stage left, stage right, stage set, stage setting, stage world, stagecoach, stagedom, stageland, staging, standing, star, station, status, step, step terrace, stock, story, stratum, strawhat, strawhat circuit, stretch, stump, substratum, succeed, summer stock, superstratum, switchboard, taxi, taxicab, terrace, terrain, the boards, the footlights, the scenes, the stage, the theater, theater, theater world, theatricalize, theatromania, theatrophobia, thickness, tier, tilting ground, tiltyard, time, time lag, topsoil, tribunal, tribune, trump up, try out, underlayer, understory, understratum, variety, vaudeville, walk, while, wings, wrestling ring, zone

ROGET THESAURUS

Stage

The Drama

N the drama, the stage, the theater, the play, film the film, movies, motion pictures, cinema, cinematography, theatricals, dramaturgy, histrionic art, buskin, sock, cothurnus, Melpomene and Thalia, Thespis, play, drama, stage play, piece, five-act play, tragedy, comedy, opera, vaudeville, comedietta, lever de rideau, interlude, afterpiece, exode, farce, divertissement, extravaganza, burletta, harlequinade, pantomime, burlesque, opera bouffe, ballet, spectacle, masque, drame comedie drame, melodrama, melodrame, comidie larmoyante, sensation drama, tragicomedy, farcical-comedy, monodrame monologue, duologue trilogy, charade, proverbs, mystery, miracle play, musical, musical comedy, western, horse opera, flick, spy film, love story, adventure film, documentary, nature film, pornographic film, smoker, skin flick, X-rated film, act, scene, tableau, induction, introduction, prologue, epilogue, libretto, performance, representation, mise en scene, stagery, jeu de theatre, acting, gesture, impersonation, stage business, gag, buffoonery, light comedy, genteel comedy, low comedy, theater, playhouse, opera house, house, music hall, amphitheater, circus, hippodrome, theater in the round, puppet show, fantoccini, marionettes, Punch and Judy, auditory, auditorium, front of the house, stalls, boxes, pit, gallery, parquet, greenroom, coulisses, flat, drop, drop scene, wing, screen, side scene, transformation scene, curtain, act drop, proscenium, stage, scene, scenery, the boards, trap, mezzanine floor, flies, floats, footlights, offstage, orchestra, theatrical costume, theatrical properties, movie studio, back lot, on location, part, role, character, dramatis personae, repertoire, actor, thespian, player, method actor, stage player, strolling player, stager, performer, mime, mimer, artists, comedian, tragedian, tragedienne, Roscius, star, movie star, star of stage and screen, superstar, idol, sex symbol, supporting actor, supporting cast, ham, hamfatter, masker, pantomimist, clown harlequin, buffo, buffoon, farceur, grimacer, pantaloon, columbine, punchinello, pulcinello, pulcinella, extra, bit- player, walk-on role, cameo appearance, mute, figurante, general utility, super, supernumerary, company, first tragedian, prima donna, protagonist, jeune premier, debutant, debutante, light comedian, genteel comedian, low comedian, walking gentleman, amoroso, heavy father, ingenue, jeune veuve, mummer, guiser, guisard, gysart, masque, mountebank, Jack Pudding, tumbler, posture master, acrobat, contortionist, ballet dancer, ballet girl, chorus singer, coryphee danseuse, property man, costumier, machinist, prompter, call boy, manager, director, stage manager, acting manager, producer, entrepreneur, impresario, backer, investor, angel, dramatic author, dramatic writer, play writer, playwright, dramatist, mimographer, dramatic, theatric, theatrical, scenic, histrionic, comic, tragic, buskined, farcical, tragicomic, melodramatic, operatic, stagy, on the stage, on the boards, on film, before the floats, before an audience, behind the scenes, fere totus mundus exercet histrionem, suit the action to the word, the word to the action, the play's the thing, to wake the soul by tender strokes of art.

Degree

N degree, grade, extent, measure, amount, ratio, stint, standard, height, pitch, reach, amplitude, range, scope, caliber, gradation, shade, tenor, compass, sphere, station, rank, standing, rate, way, sort, point, mark, stage, intensity, strength, comparative, gradual, shading off, within the bounds, by degrees, gradually, inasmuch, pro tanto, however, howsoever, step by step, bit by bit, little by little, inch by inch, drop by drop, a little at a time, by inches, by slow degrees, by degrees, by little and little, in some degree, in some measure, to some extent, di grado in grado.

Term

N term, rank, station, stage, step, degree, scale, remove, grade, link, peg, round of the ladder, status, position, place, point, mark, pas, period, pitch, stand, standing, footing, range.

Time

N time, duration, period, term, stage, space, span, spell, season, the whole time, the whole period, space-time, course, snap, intermediate time, while, interim, interval, pendency, intervention, intermission, intermittence, interregnum, interlude, respite, era, epoch, time of life, age, year, date, decade, moment, glass of time, sands of time, march of time, Father Time, ravages of time, arrow of time, river of time, whirligig of time, noiseless foot of time, scythe, continuing, on foot, permanent, while, whilst, during, pending, during the time, during the interval, in the course of, at that point, at that point in time, for the time being, day by day, in the time of, when, meantime, meanwhile, in the meantime, in the interim, ad interim, pendente lite, de die in diem, from day to day, from hour to hour, hourly, always, for a time, for a season, till, until, up to, yet, as far as, by that time, so far, hereunto, heretofore, prior to this, up to this point, the whole time, all the time, all along, throughout, for good, hereupon, thereupon, whereupon, then, anno Domini, A, D, ante Christum, A, C, before Christ, B, C, anno urbis conditae, A, U, C, anno regni, A, R, once upon a time, one fine morning, one fine day, one day, once, time flies, tempus fugit, time runs out, time runs against, race against time, racing the clock, time marches on, time is of the essence, time and tide wait for no man, ad calendas Groecas, panting Time toileth after him in vain, 'gainst the tooth of time and razure of oblivion, rich with the spoils of time, tempus edax rerum, the long hours come and go, the time is out of joint, Time rolls his ceaseless course, Time the foe of man's dominion, time wasted is existence, used is life, truditur dies die, volat hora per orbem, carpe diem.

Situation

N situation, position, locality, locale, status, latitude and longitude, footing, standing, standpoint, post, stage, aspect, attitude, posture, pose, environment, surroundings (location), circumjacence, place, site, station, seat, venue, whereabouts, ground, bearings, spot, topography, geography, chorography, map, situate, situated, local, topical, topographical, in situ, in loco, here and there, passim, hereabouts, thereabouts, whereabouts, in place, here, there, in such and such surroundings, in such and such environs, in such and such entourage, amidst such and such surroundings, amidst such and such environs, amidst such and such entourage.

Layer

N layer, stratum, strata, course, bed, zone, substratum, substrata, floor, flag, stage, story, tier, slab, escarpment, table, tablet, dess, flagstone, board, plank, trencher, platter, plate, lamina, lamella, sheet, foil, wafer, scale, flake, peel, coat, pellicle, membrane, film, leaf, slice, shive, cut, rasher, shaving, integument, eschar, stratification, scaliness, nest of boxes, coats of an onion, monolayer, bilayer, trilayer, lamellar, lamellated, lamelliform, layered, laminated, laminiferous, micaceous, schistose, schistous, scaly, filmy, membranous, pellicular, flaky, squamous, foliated, foliaceous, stratified, stratiform, tabular, discoid, spathic, spathose, trilamellar, graphitic.

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.

Vehicle

N vehicle, conveyance, carriage, caravan, van, common carrier, wagon, waggon, wain, dray, cart, lorry, truck, tram, cariole, carriole, limber, tumbrel, pontoon, barrow, wheel barrow, hand barrow, perambulator, Bath chair, wheel chair, sedan chair, chaise, palankeen, palanquin, litter, brancard, crate, hurdle, stretcher, ambulance, black Maria, conestoga wagon, conestoga wain, jinrikisha, ricksha, brett, dearborn, dump cart, hack, hackery, jigger, kittereen, mailstate, manomotor, rig, rockaway, prairie schooner, shay, sloven, team, tonga, wheel, hobbyhorse, go-cart, cycle, bicycle, bike, two-wheeler, tricycle, velocipede, quadricycle, equipage, turn-out, coach, chariot, phaeton, break, mail phaeton, wagonette, drag, curricle, tilbury, whisky, landau, barouche, victoria, brougham, clarence, calash, caleche, britzka, araba, kibitka, berlin, sulky, desobligeant, sociable, vis-a-vis, dormeuse, jaunting car, outside car, dandi, doolie, dooly, munchil, palki, roller skates, skate, runabout, ski, tonjon, vettura, post chaise, diligence, stage, stage coach, mail coach, hackney coach, glass coach, stage wagon, car, omnibus, fly, cabriolet, cab, hansom, shofle, four-wheeler, growler, droshki, drosky, dogcart, trap, whitechapel, buggy, four-in-hand, unicorn, random, tandem, shandredhan, char-a-bancs, motor car, automobile, limousine, car, auto, jalopy, clunker, lemon, flivver, coupe, sedan, two-door sedan, four-door sedan, luxury sedan, wheels, sports car, roadster, gran turismo, jeep, four-wheel drive vehicle, electric car, steamer, golf cart, electric wagon, taxicab, cab, taxicoach, checker cab, yellow cab, station wagon, family car, motorcycle, motor bike, side car, van, minivan, bus, minibus, microbus, truck, wagon, pick-up wagon, pick-up, tractor- trailer, road train, articulated vehicle, racing car, racer, hot rod, stock car, souped-up car, bob, bobsled, bobsleigh, cutter, double ripper, double runner, jumper, sled, sledge, sleigh, toboggan, train, accommodation train, passenger train, express trail, special train, corridor train, parliamentary train, luggage train, freight train, goods train, 1st class train, 2nd class train, 3rd class train, 1st class carriage, 2nd class carriage, 3rd class carriage, 1st class compartment, 2nd class compartment, 3rd class compartment, rolling stock, horse box, cattle truck, baggage car, express car, freight car, parlor car, dining car, Pullman car, sleeping car, sleeper, dome car, surface car, tram car, trolley car, box car, box wagon, horse car, bullet train, shinkansen, cannonball, the Wabash cannonball, lightning express, luggage van, mail, mail car, mail van, shovel, spool, spatula, ladle, hod, hoe, spade, spaddle, loy, spud, pitchfork, post hole digger, tractor, steamshovel, backhoe, fork lift, earth mover, dump truck, bulldozer, grader, caterpillar, trench digger, steamroller, pile driver, crane, wrecking crane.