Background for stele

stele

/stiːl/

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noun

Something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh.

Examples :

"The loaf of bread had become a hard, dry stele after sitting on the counter for a week. "

Illustration stele - Image 1

noun

A long, thin handle (of rakes, axes, etc.)

Examples :

"The broom broke when I leaned on the stele. "

utensil item thing

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noun

The posts and rungs composing a ladder.

Examples :

"The worn stele of the old wooden ladder creaked under his weight as he climbed to the attic. "

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noun

The stem of a plant.

Examples :

"The sunflower's stele is strong and sturdy, supporting its large head of flowers. "

plant biology part

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noun

The shaft of an arrow, spear, etc.

Examples :

"The archer carefully examined the stele of each arrow to ensure it was straight and undamaged before the competition. "

weapon military

Illustration stele - Image 1

noun

A fixed position, particularly a soldier's in a battle-line.

Examples :

"Despite the chaos of the paintball game, Michael held his stele behind the overturned picnic table, ready to defend his team's flag. "

military position war

Illustration stele - Image 1

noun

A stalemate; a stalemated game.

Examples :

"After a grueling two hours of chess, the game reached a stele, with neither player able to make a winning move. "

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noun

Examples :

"The soldiers prepared a stele in the dense forest, hoping to surprise the enemy convoy as it passed. "

military war action

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noun

A band of armed men or hunters.

Examples :

"The stele, weapons gleaming, marched into the forest, determined to hunt down the wild boar. "

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noun

The main force of an army.

Examples :

"Although the initial attacks were fierce, the veterans formed the stele of the army, holding the line and preventing a complete rout. "

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noun

(livestock) Urine, especially used of horses and cattle.

Examples :

"The farmer noticed the strong smell of stele in the cattle pen after a long, hot day. "

animal biology physiology

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noun

A live bird to lure birds of prey or others of its kind into a trap.

Examples :

"The falconer used a pigeon as a stele to attract a wild hawk for training. "

Illustration stele - Image 1

noun

Any lure, particularly in reference to people used as live bait.

Examples :

"The fisherman used the lost student as a stele, hoping to attract the large fish. "

human animal action

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noun

An accomplice of a thief or criminal acting as bait.

Examples :

"During the crowded market, the pickpocket used his young sister as a stele, having her bump into shoppers to distract them while he swiftly stole their wallets. "

person action police

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noun

A partner whose beloved abandons or torments him in favor of another.

Examples :

"After Sarah ran off with the pizza delivery guy, John became a pitiable stele, forever lamenting his lost love. "

person literature character family emotion suffering

Illustration stele - Image 1

noun

A patsy, a pawn, someone used under some false pretext to forward another's (usu. sinister) designs; a stalking horse.

Examples :

"The politician pretended to support the community project, but he was really just using it as a stele to gain votes before the election, with no intention of actually helping. "

politics government action organization person attitude business character job state

Illustration stele - Image 1

noun

A prostitute of the lowest sort; any wanton woman.

sex person human character moral society

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noun

Any decoy, either stuffed or manufactured.

Examples :

"The farmer placed several steles shaped like crows in his cornfield to scare away the real birds. "

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noun

An upright (or formerly upright) slab containing engraved or painted decorations or inscriptions; a stela.

Examples :

"In the museum, we saw a tall stone stele covered in ancient Egyptian writing. "

art archaeology history architecture

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noun

Any carved or engraved surface.

Examples :

"The museum displayed a tall, stone stele covered with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. "

art archaeology history writing building

Illustration stele - Image 1

noun

An acroterion, the decoration on the ridge of an ancient Greek building such as a temple.

Examples :

"The art history student pointed to the stele atop the Parthenon in the photograph, explaining that it was a stylized floral ornament. "

architecture art archaeology

Illustration stele - Image 1

noun

The central core of a plant's root and stem system, especially including the vascular tissue and developed from the plerome.

Examples :

"The botanist carefully examined the stele of the young plant, noting the arrangement of vascular tissue. "

plant biology anatomy structure