Stare

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Stare, n. [AS. stær. See Starling.].

 The starling.  [1913 Webster]

Stare, v. i. [AS. starian; akin to LG. & D. staren, OHG. starēn, G. starren, Icel. stara; cf. Icel. stira, Dan. stirre, Sw. stirra, and G. starr stiff, rigid, fixed, Gr. stereo`s solid (E. stereo-), Skr. sthira firm, strong. √166. Cf. Sterile.].

•  To look with fixed eyes wide open, as through fear, wonder, surprise, impudence, etc.; to fasten an earnest and prolonged gaze on some object.  [1913 Webster]

  "For ever upon the ground I see thee stare."  [1913 Webster]

  "Look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be very conspicuous on account of size, prominence, color, or brilliancy; as, staring windows or colors.  [1913 Webster]
•  To stand out; to project; to bristle.  [1913 Webster]

  "Makest my blood cold, and my hair to stare."  [1913 Webster]

  "Take off all the staring straws and jags in the hive."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To gaze; to look earnestly. See Gaze.

Stare, v. t. 

 To look earnestly at; to gaze at.  [1913 Webster]
"I will stare him out of his wits."  [1913 Webster]

To stare in the face, to be before the eyes, or to be undeniably evident. “The law . . . stares them in the face whilst they are breaking it.” Locke.

Stare, n. 

 The act of staring; a fixed look with eyes wide open.  Churchill.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Stare, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. (usu. foll. by at) look fixedly with eyes open, esp. as the result of curiosity, surprise, bewilderment, admiration, horror, etc. (sat staring at the door; stared in amazement).
2 intr. (of eyes) be wide open and fixed.
3 intr. be unpleasantly prominent or striking.
4 tr. (foll. by into) reduce (a person) to a specified condition by staring (stared me into silence).
--n. a staring gaze.

Idiom

stare down (or out) outstare. stare a person in the face be evident or imminent.

Derivative

starer n.

Etymology

OE starian f. Gmc

THESAURUS

Stare

be amazed, be astonished, be curious, bedroom eyes, bore, burn with curiosity, come-hither look, crane, crane the neck, dig around for, dig up, evil eye, eye, gape, gaup, gawk, gaze, gaze open-mouthed, glad eye, glare, gloat, glower, glowering look, goggle, inquire, interrogate, look, malocchio, marvel, nose around for, nose out, ogle, peer, penetrating look, query, question, quiz, rubber, rubberneck, seek, stand aghast, stand on tiptoe, stare at, stare down, stare hard, stare openmouthed, want to know, watch, whammy, wonder

ROGET THESAURUS

Stare

Arena

N arena, field, platform, scene of action, theater, walk, course, hustings, stare, boards, amphitheater, Coliseum, Colosseum, Flavian amphitheater, hippodrome, circus, race course, corso, turf, cockpit, bear garden, playground, gymnasium, palestra, ring, lists, tiltyard, tilting ground, Campus Martins, Champ de Allars, campus, boxing ring, canvas, theater of war, seat of war, battle-field, battle-ground, field of battle, field of slaughter, Aceldama, camp, the enemy's camp, trusting place.

Wonder

VB wonder, marvel, admire, be surprised, start, stare, open one's eyes, rub one's eyes, turn up one's eyes, gloar, gape, open one's mouth, hold one's breath, look aghast, stand aghast, stand agog, look blank, tombe des nues, not believe one's eyes, not believe one's ears, not believe one's senses, not be able to account for, not know whether one stands on one's head or one's, surprise, astonish, amaze, astound, dumfound, dumfounder, startle, dazzle, daze, strike, strike with wonder, strike with awe, electrify, stun, stupefy, petrify, confound, bewilder, flabbergast, stagger, throw on one's beam ends, fascinate, turn the head, take away one's breath, strike dumb, make one's hair stand on end, make one's tongue cleave to the roof of one's mout, make one stare, take by surprise, be wonderful, beggar description, beggar the imagination, baffle description, stagger belief.

Vision

N vision, sight, optics, eyesight, view, look, espial, glance, ken, coup d'oeil, glimpse, glint, peep, gaze, stare, leer, perlustration, contemplation, conspection, conspectuity, regard, survey, introspection, reconnaissance, speculation, watch, espionage, espionnage, autopsy, ocular inspection, ocular demonstration, sight-seeing, point of view, gazebo, loophole, belvedere, watchtower, field of view, theater, amphitheater, arena, vista, horizon, commanding view, bird's eye view, periscope, visual organ, organ of vision, eye, naked eye, unassisted eye, retina, pupil, iris, cornea, white, optics, orbs, saucer eyes, goggle eyes, gooseberry eyes, short sight, clear sight, sharp sight, quick sight, eagle sight, piercing sight, penetrating sight, clear glance, sharp glance, quick glance, eagle glance, piercing glance, penetrating glance, clear eye, sharp eye, quick eye, eagle eye, piercing eye, penetrating eye, perspicacity, discernment, catopsis, eagle, hawk, cat, lynx, Argus, evil eye, basilisk, cockatrice, seeing, visual, ocular, optic, optical, ophthalmic, clear-eyesighted, eagle-eyed, hawk-eyed, lynx-eyed, keen- eyed, Argus-eyed, visible, visibly, in sight of, with one's eyes open at sight, at first sight, at a glance, at the first blush, prima facie, Int, look!, the scales falling from one's eyes, an eye like Mars to threaten or command, her eyes are homes of silent prayer, looking before and after, thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes.

VB see, behold, discern, perceive, have in sight, descry, sight, make out, discover, distinguish, recognize, spy, espy, ken, get a sight of, have a sight of, catch a sight of, get a glimpse of, have a glimpse of, catch a glimpse of, command a view of, witness, contemplate, speculate, cast the eyes on, set the eyes on, be a spectator of, look on, see sights, see at a glance, look, view, eye, lift up the eyes, open one's eye, look at, look on, look upon, look over, look about one, look round, survey, scan, inspect, run the eye over, run the eye through, reconnoiter, glance round, glance on, glance over turn one's looks upon, bend one's looks upon, direct the eyes to, turn the eyes on, cast a glance, observe, watch, see with one's own eyes, watch for, peep, peer, pry, take a peep, play at bopeep, look full in the face, look hard at, look intently, strain one's eyes, fix the eyes upon, rivet the eyes upon, stare, gaze, pore over, gloat on, leer, ogle, glare, goggle, cock the eye, squint, gloat, look askance.

Curiosity

VB be curious, take an interest in, stare, gape, prick up the ears, see sights, lionize, pry, nose, rubberneck.