stare

stare
    n 1: a fixed look with eyes open wide
    v 1: look at with fixed eyes; "The students stared at the
         teacher with amazement" [syn: {gaze}, {stare}]
    2: fixate one's eyes; "The ancestor in the painting is staring
       down menacingly"
    

Stare \Stare\ (st[^a]r), n. [AS. staer. See {Starling}.] (Zool.)
   The starling. [Obs.]
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stare \stare\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {stared} (st[^a]rd); p. pr. &
   vb. n. {staring}.] [AS. starian; akin to LG. & D. staren,
   OHG. star[=e]n, 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.
   [root]166. Cf. {Sterile}.]
   1. To look with fixed eyes wide open, as through fear,
      wonder, surprise, impudence, etc.; to fasten an earnest
      and prolonged gaze on some object.
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            For ever upon the ground I see thee stare.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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            Look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret.
                                                  --Shak.
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   2. To be very conspicuous on account of size, prominence,
      color, or brilliancy; as, staring windows or colors.
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   3. To stand out; to project; to bristle. [Obs.]
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            Makest my blood cold, and my hair to stare. --Shak.
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            Take off all the staring straws and jags in the
            hive.                                 --Mortimer.
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   Syn: To gaze; to look earnestly. See {Gaze}.
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Stare \Stare\ (st[^a]r), v. t.
   To look earnestly at; to gaze at.
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         I will stare him out of his wits.        --Shak.
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   {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.
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Stare \Stare\, n.
   The act of staring; a fixed look with eyes wide open. "A dull
   and stupid stare." --Churchill.
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Starling \Star"ling\ (-l[i^]ng), n. [OE. sterlyng, a dim. of OE.
   stare, AS. staer; akin to AS. stearn, G. star, staar, OHG.
   stara, Icel. starri, stari, Sw. stare, Dan. staer, L.
   sturnus. Cf. {Stare} a starling.]
   1. (Zool.) Any passerine bird belonging to {Sturnus} and
      allied genera. The European starling ({Sturnus vulgaris})
      is dark brown or greenish black, with a metallic gloss,
      and spotted with yellowish white. It is a sociable bird,
      and builds about houses, old towers, etc. Called also
      {stare}, and {starred}. The pied starling of India is
      {Sternopastor contra}.
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   2. (Zool.) A California fish; the rock trout.
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   3. A structure of piles driven round the piers of a bridge
      for protection and support; -- called also {sterling}.
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   {Rose-colored starling}. (Zool.) See {Pastor}.
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50 Moby Thesaurus words for "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