ˈsteɪʃən n. & v. --n. 1 a a
regular stopping place on a
railway line,
with a
platform and usu.
administrative buildings. b
these buildings (see
also bus station,
coach station). 2 a place or
building etc.
where a
person or
thing stands or is placed,
esp. habitually or
for a
definite purpose. 3 a a designated
point or
establishment where a
particular service or
activity is based or organized (police station;
polling station). b US a
subsidiary post
office. 4 an establishment involved in
radio or
television broadcasting. 5 a a
military or
naval base esp.
hist. in India. b
the inhabitants of
this. 6
position in
life; rank or
status (ideas
above your station). 7
Austral. & NZ a
large sheep or
cattle farm. 8
Bot. a particular place where an
unusual species etc. grows. --v.tr. 1
assign a station
to. 2 put in position. østation-bill Naut. a list
showing the prescribed stations of a ship's crew for
various drills or in an
emergency. station break US a
pause between broadcast programmes for an announcement of the
identity of the station transmitting
them. station
hand Austral. a
worker on a large sheep or cattle farm. station
house US a
police station. station-keeping the
maintenance of one's
proper relative position in a
moving body of ships etc. station of the
cross RC
Ch. a
each of a
series of usu. 14 images or pictures representing the events in Christ's
passion before which devotions are performed in
some churches. b each of these devotions. station
pointer Naut. a ship's navigational
instrument,
often a three-armed
protractor, for fixing one's place on a
chart from the
angle in the
horizontal plane between
two landor sea-marks. station
sergeant Brit. the sergeant in
charge of a police station. station-wagon an
estate car. [ME, =
standing, f. OF f. L statio -onis f.
stare stand]
