Meaning & use
Sties
Last updated
Enclosures for keeping pigs, or, in a second sense, small inflamed swellings on the edge of an eyelid.
See it in a sentence
The farmer mucked out the sties every morning before feeding the pigs.
A painful stye can develop into one of several sties if the infection spreads along the eyelash line.
A note on using this word
The two meanings—pigpen and eyelid swelling—are unrelated in origin; the eye condition comes from an Old English word related to "rising," not from the animal enclosure.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
Small, painful, inflamed swellings that form on or near the edge of the eyelid.
Her eye watered constantly because of two sties along the lash line.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Sties”, then compare your use with the examples above.