Sekirov Dictionary

stagger

UK /ˈstæɡə/US /ˈstæɡɚ/

verb 11
noun 7
forms 5

verb11

To sway unsteadily, reel, or totter.
•
In standing or walking, to sway from one side to the other as if about to fall; to stand or walk unsteadily; to reel or totter.
- She began to stagger across the room.
•
To cause to reel or totter.
- The powerful blow of his opponent's fist staggered the boxer.
Have multiple groups doing the same thing in a uniform fashion, but starting at different, evenly spaced, times or places (attested from 1856).
To arrange (a series of parts) on each side of a median line alternately, as the spokes of a wheel or the rivets of a boiler seam.
•
To arrange similar objects such that each is ahead or above and to one side of the next.
- We will stagger the starting positions for the race on the oval track.
•
To schedule in intervals or at different times.
- We will stagger the run so the faster runners can go first, then the joggers.
Doubt, waver, be shocked.
•
To begin to doubt and waver in purposes; to become less confident or determined; to hesitate.
- He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief. — 1611
•
To cause to doubt and waver; to make to hesitate; to make less steady or confident; to shock.
- He will stagger the committee when he presents his report.
•
To cease to stand firm; to begin to give way; to fail.
- The enemy staggers.

noun7

•
An unsteady movement of the body in walking or standing as if one were about to fall; a reeling motion.
- 7 October 2012, Paolo Bandini in The Guardian, Denver Broncos 21 New England Patriots 31 - as it happened Put down the rosary beads folks, I believe hell may just have frozen over. Peyton Manning drops back, sees nothing open and runs for a first down. If you can call that running. More like the stagger of a wounded rhino. Did the job, though
•
The spacing out of various actions over time.
- 19 April 2016, Rachel Roddy in The Guardian, Rachel Roddy’s Roman spring vegetable stew recipe I don’t include cured pork, although it is very nice, and rather than putting everything in the pan at once I prefer a stagger of ingredients, which ensures each one gets the right amount of time.
The horizontal positioning of a biplane, triplane, or multiplane's wings in relation to one another.
•
(UK) One who attends a stag night.
- Tallinn no longer takes pride in the title of 'favourite destination of British staggers'. — 2013
•
A disease of horses and other animals, attended by reeling, unsteady gait or sudden falling.
- parasitic staggers
- apoplectic or sleepy staggers
The difference in circumference between the left and right tires on a racing vehicle. It is used on oval tracks to make the car turn better in the corners.
Bewilderment; perplexity.

forms

staggered · staggering · staggereth · staggers · staggerest

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