Stave | Mean of stave in English Dictionary

/ˈsteɪv/

• Noun
• one of the narrow strips of wood that form the sides of a barrel
• a long wooden stick
• Verb
• to be broken or crushed inward or to break or crush (something) inward
1. The hull of the boat stove in when it hit the rocks.
2. The rocks stove in the hull of the boat.

• to keep (someone or something) away usually for a short time
1. He's trying to stave off his creditors.
2. Our company cannot stave bankruptcy off any longer.
3. She ate a few crackers to stave off hunger. [=to prevent herself from getting too hungry]