Library / English Dictionary

STABILIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make stable and keep from fluctuating or put into an equilibrium

Example:

stabilize prices

Synonyms:

stabilise; stabilize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "stabilize" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stabilize"):

peg (stabilize (the price of a commodity or an exchange rate) by legislation or market operations)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

destabilize (make unstable)

Derivation:

stabilization (the act of stabilizing something or making it more stable)

stabilizer (a device for making something stable)

stabilizer (airfoil consisting of a device for stabilizing an aircraft)

stabilizer (a chemical that is added to a solution or mixture or suspension to maintain it in a stable or unchanging state)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become stable or more stable

Example:

The economy stabilized

Synonyms:

stabilise; stabilize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "stabilize" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stabilize"):

root; settle; settle down; steady down; take root (become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style)

becalm; calm; steady (make steady)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Antonym:

destabilise; destabilize (become unstable)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace

Example:

brace your elbows while working on the potter's wheel

Synonyms:

brace; stabilise; stabilize; steady

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "stabilize" is one way to...):

beef up; fortify; strengthen (make strong or stronger)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stabilize"):

ballast (make steady with a ballast)

guy (steady or support with a guy wire or cable)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

stabilization (the act of making something (as a vessel or aircraft) less likely to overturn)

Credits

 Context examples: 

In turn, paclitaxel binds to and stabilizes microtubules, preventing their depolymerization, which results in the inhibition of cellular motility, mitosis, and replication.

(Oraxol, NCI Thesaurus)

On December 19, action Mars will receive a friendly beam from Saturn, a highly stabilizing aspect, perfect for making a verbal or written agreement with another party.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

A semi-synthetic analog of the natural product epothilone B that stabilizes microtubules and causes cancer cell death.

(BMS-247550, NCI Thesaurus)

Your ligaments, which connect bones to one another, stabilize and support it.

(Ankle Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

Amenamenir stabilizes the interaction between the helicase-primase and its DNA substrates, preventing the progression through helicase or primase catalytic cycles, thus interfering with viral DNA replication and viral growth.

(Amenamevir, NCI Thesaurus)

Having stabilizing and quinidine-like effects on cardiac rhythm, Acebutolol is used in ventricular arrhythmias.

(Acebutolol, NCI Thesaurus)

Wnt signaling acts as a positive regulator of beta-catenin by inhibiting beta-catenin degradation, which stabilizes beta-catenin, and causes its accumulation.

(Adherens Junction Assembly Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

Paclitaxel, a toxoid, binds to and stabilizes tubulin and inhibits the disassembly of microtubules, thereby inhibiting cell division.

(Micellar Paclitaxel, NCI Thesaurus)

This drug stabilizes dopamine and serotonin activity in the limbic and cortical system.

(Aripiprazole, NCI Thesaurus)

Benzocaine binds to the sodium channel and reversibly stabilizes the neuronal membrane which decreases its permeability to sodium ions.

(Benzocaine, NCI Thesaurus)