state
/steɪt/ noun, verb, adjective, proper noun
Forms states stating stated
- noun A condition; a set of circumstances applying at any given time. “a state of being”
- noun (physics) A complete description of a system, consisting of parameters that determine all properties of the system.
- noun (colloquial, in the singular) A mess; disorder; a bad condition or set of circumstances. “absolute state”
- noun (computing) The stable condition of a processor during a particular clock cycle. “In the fetch state, the address of the next instruction is placed on the address bus.”
- noun (computing) The set of all parameters relevant to a computation. “The state here includes a set containing all names seen so far.”
- noun (computing) The values of all parameters at some point in a computation. “A debugger can show the state of a program at any breakpoint.”
- noun (sciences) The physical property of matter as solid, liquid, gas or plasma.
- noun (obsolete) Highest and stationary condition, as that of maturity between growth and decline, or as that of crisis between the increase and the abating of a disease; height; acme.
- verb (transitive) To declare to be a fact. “He stated that he was willing to help.”
- verb (transitive) To make known. “State your intentions.”
- adjective (obsolete) Stately.
- noun A political entity that regulates society and the population within a definite territory.
- noun (often with definite article) The current governing political entity in which the speaker lives.
- proper noun State University, as the shortened form of a public university name.
Synonyms
ass in a sling bind bucket of syrup calvary cauldron cross cross to bear difficulty dilemma dire straits doghouse fix hole jam kettle kettle of fish ordeal pickle pinch plight province nation country land commonwealth res publica body politic state of matter Department of State United States Department of State
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English stat (as a noun); adopted c. 1200 from both Old French estat and Latin stātus (“manner of standing, attitude, position, carriage, manner, dress, apparel; and other senses”), from stāre (“to stand”). Doublet of estate and status. The sense of "polity" develops in the 14th century. Compare French être, Greek στέω (stéo), Italian stare, Portuguese estar, Romanian sta, and Spanish estar. The verb is first attested around the beginning of the 16th century. Related to English stand. Displaced native Old English hād (“state, condition”).
Capitalization of state.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The circumstances or condition of a being or thing at any given time.
- noun Rank; condition; quality; as, the state of honor.
- adjective Stately. [Obs.] Spenser.
- adjective Belonging to the state, or body politic; public.
Etymology [OE. stat, OF. estat, F. état, fr. L. status a standing, position, fr. stare, statum, to stand. See Stand, and cf. Estate, Status.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “state”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details