1 a strong stick or pole （坚实的）棍，柱: fence staves栅栏的木柱
2 (US 美 staff) a set of five lines on which music is written 五线谱 ☞picture at music 见music插图
stave²
/steɪv ||; stev/verbstave sth off to stop sth unpleasant from happening now, although it may happen at a later time; to delay sth （暂时）防止，阻止；使延迟: to stave off hunger/illness/inflation/bankruptcy防止饥饿；防治疾病；防止通货膨胀；防止破产