<B>staple fiber,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the short fiber lengths of rayon, acetate, or the like that are spun into yarn. <BR> <I>Ex. Staple fibers are those used to spin yarns, as distinguished from filament, or continuous, yarns already suitable for weaving into cloth (Wall Street Journal).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="staplepuncture">
<B>staplepuncture, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the insertion of tiny wire staples into the external ear as a form of acupuncture supposed to reduce the appetite or eliminate drug-withdrawal symptoms. <BR> <I>Ex. Staplepuncture ... is based on the theory--so far unconfirmed--that there are "obesity nerve endings" in the ear (Time).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="stapler">
<B>stapler</B> (1), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a machine for fastening things together with wire staples, such as several sheets of paper, parts of a book, screening or upholstery to a frame, or sheets of insulation to rafters. </DL>
<A NAME="stapler">
<B>stapler</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who sorts and grades fibers, as of wool or cotton. </DL>
<A NAME="stapp">
<B>stapp, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a unit of measure used in aviation medicine, equal to the force exerted by one G acting on the body for one second. </DL>
<A NAME="star">
<B>star, </B>noun, verb, <B>starred,</B> <B>starring,</B> adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>any one of the heavenly bodies appearing as bright points in the sky at night. <BR> <I>Ex. There were so many clouds we could not see many stars last night.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>any heavenly body that is not a planet, moon, comet, meteor, or nebula. Stars are hot, luminous, gaseous bodies varying in size from those slightly larger than the earth to those several million times as large as the sun. The majority of stars, including the sun, fall into one pattern (the main sequence) when plotted on a graph according to luminosity and type of spectrum. <DD><B> 3. </B>any heavenly body. <DD><B> 4. </B>(Astrology.) a planet or constellation of the zodiac, considered as influencing people and events. <DD><B> 5. </B>one's fortune, rank, destiny, or temperament, viewed as determined by the stars; fate. <BR> <I>Ex. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings (Shakespeare).</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>a figure having usually five points, sometimes six, taken to represent a star of the sky. <DD><B> 7. </B>something having or suggesting this shape. <DD><B> 8. </B><B>=asterisk.</B> <DD><B> 9. </B>(U.S.) a representation of a star symbolizing one of the states in the Union. <DD><B> 10. </B>(U.S.) any one of the military medals or awards having a star-shaped design. <DD><B> 11. </B>(Figurative.) <DD><B> a. </B>a person having brilliant qualities or talents in some art, science, or other field. <BR> <I>Ex. an athletic star.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>an actor, singer, or other entertainer who is exceptionally well known or prominently advertised, or who has the leading part in a particular production; lead. <BR> <I>Ex. an opera star, the star of the new musical. All stars have one characteristic in common ... some magnetic quality which sets them apart on the screen from all other actors (New York Times).</I> <DD><B> 12. </B>(Physics.) a star-shaped pattern of lines radiating outward from the nucleus of an atom that is exploded by high-energy particles, as seen in a photograph of this effect produced in a cloud chamber. <DD><B> 13. </B>any one of a class of racing sailboats that are about 23 feet in length and have large sails, Marconi rigs, and fin keels. <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to set, adorn, or ornament with stars; bespangle. <BR> <I>Ex. Her cards were starred for perfect attendance.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>to mark withan asterisk. <DD><B> 3. </B>to single out for special notice or recommendation. <DD><B> 4. </B>to give a leading part to (an actor or actress); present to the public as a star. <DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1. </B>to be a leading performer; perform the leading part. <BR> <I>Ex. She has starred in many motion pictures.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>to shine above others; be brilliant or outstanding; excel. <DD><I>adj. </I> brilliant or outstanding; chief; excellent; best; leading. <BR> <I>Ex. the star player on a football team.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>see stars,</B> </I>to see flashes of light as a result of a hard blow on one's head. <BR> <I>Ex. Quicker than thought, in comes his right, and if you only see stars you are pretty lucky (John D. Astley).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>thank one's</B> (<B>lucky</B>) <B>stars,</B> </I>to be thankful for one's good luck. <BR> <I>Ex. You may thank your stars, my lad, that I followed Master Barns tonight (Joseph Hatton).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>with stars in one's eyes,</B> </I>full of idealism or optimism; starry-eyed. <BR> <I>Ex. The depressing thing to one whose entire ancestry, immediate and remote, is British, and who came to England with stars in his eyes, is the bleakness of the future (Atlantic).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="staranise">
<B>star-anise,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a shrub or small tree of the magnolia family, native to Asia, having purplish-red flowers and fruits of anise scent. <DD><B> 2. </B>a spice obtained from the fruit. </DL>
<A NAME="starapple">
<B>star apple,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the apple-shaped, edible fruit of a tropical American evergreen tree of the sapodilla family, whose carpels present a star-shaped figure when cut across. <DD><B> 2. </B>the tree itself. </DL>
<A NAME="starboard">
<B>starboard, </B>noun, adjective, adverb, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> the right side of a boat or ship when facing forward. <DD><I>adj. </I> on, at, or of the right side of a boat or ship. <DD><I>adv. </I> to or toward the right side of a boat or ship. <DD><I>v.t., v.i. </I> to turn or move (the helm) to or in the direction of the right side of a boat or ship. </DL>
<A NAME="starburst">
<B>starburst, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>something shaped like the bursting forth of a star's rays; a star-shaped figure or design. <BR> <I>Ex. ... a flamboyant 55-ft. neon trademark with a starburst on top (Sunday Times).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=star shell.</B> <DD><I>adj. </I> having the shape or appearance of a starburst. <BR> <I>Ex. starburst chandeliers, a starburst clock.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="starch">
<B>starch, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a white, odorless, tasteless food substance. It is chemically a complex carbohydrate, found in all parts of a plant which store plant food. It is an important ingredient in the diet, reacting with certain enzymes to form dextrose, maltose, and other sugars, and is widely used commercially. Potatoes, wheat, rice, and corn contain much starch. <DD><B> 2. </B>a preparation of this substance used to stiffen clothes, curtains, and other cloth, to give a finish to certain textiles, and to size paper. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) a stiff, formal manner; stiffness. <DD><B> 4. </B>(Informal.) vigor; energy; zest. <DD><I>v.t. </I> to stiffen with starch; apply starch to. <BR> <I>Ex. Starch the curtains.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>starches,</B> </I>foods containing much starch. <BR> <I>Ex. to lose weight by avoiding starches.</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>starch up,</B> </I>(Obsolete.) to make formal or rigid. <BR> <I>Ex. She starched up her behaviour with a double portion of reserve (Tobias Smollett).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>take the starch out of,</B> </I>(Informal.) to cause to lose courage, confidence, or determination. <BR> <I>Ex. This apparently took the starch out of the fast-crumpling opposition (New York Times).</I> adj. <B>starchlike.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="starchamber">
<B>Star Chamber,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a court that existed in England from 1487 until 1641, enabled to proceed and act without regard for the common law, in secret session, without a jury, and in which confessions were often obtained by torture. </DL>
<A NAME="starchamber">
<B>star chamber,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any court, committee, or group like the Star Chamber in its procedures. </DL>
<A NAME="starchamber">
<B>star-chamber, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of or having to do with a star chamber. <DD><B> 2. </B>characteristic of a star chamber, especially in holding secret sessions. <BR> <I>Ex. His constitutional rights were violated by "star-chamber" proceedings in which he was not allowed to confront or cross-examine his accusers (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="starchart">
<B>star chart,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a chart which shows the stars in a certain portion of the sky. </DL>
<A NAME="starched">
<B>starched, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>stiffened with starch. <BR> <I>Ex. a starched collar.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) stiff; rigidly formal. <BR> <I>Ex. throwing aside all the starched reserve of her ordinary manner (Hawthorne).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="starcher">
<B>starcher, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person who starches. <DD><B> 2. </B>a machine for starching. </DL>
<A NAME="starchness">
<B>starchness, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> stiffness of manner; preciseness. </DL>
<B>starchy, </B>adjective, <B>starchier,</B> <B>starchiest.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>like starch. <DD><B> 2. </B>composed of starch. <DD><B> 3. </B>containing starch. <DD><B> 4. </B>stiffened with starch. <DD><B> 5. </B>(Figurative.) stiff in manner; formal. <BR> <I>Ex. Sir William Haley, the starchy editor of The Times, has donned his black cap and passed his savage sentence (Newsweek).</I> (SYN) prim. adv. <B>starchily.</B> noun <B>starchiness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="starcloud">
<B>star cloud,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a group of stars that look like a bright, hazy area when seen without a telescope. </DL>
<A NAME="starcluster">
<B>star cluster,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a group of stars that are relatively close together, classified as either galactic or globular clusters. </DL>
<A NAME="starconnected">
<B>star-connected, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having a star connection. </DL>
<A NAME="starconnection">
<B>star connection,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an arrangement in a polyphase system, as in a transformer, by which the coils or circuits have a common junction while the free ends are connected with the terminals of the line wires. </DL>
<A NAME="starcoral">
<B>star coral,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of various stony corals with radiating septa that give the cuplike depression of the skeleton a starlike appearance. </DL>
<A NAME="starcraft">
<B>starcraft, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> knowledge of the stars; astrology. </DL>
<A NAME="starcrossed">
<B>star-crossed, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> born under an evil star; ill-fated. <BR> <I>Ex. So the star-crossed lovers and the perplexed older people moved step by step into tragedy (New York Times).</I> </DL>
