station

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsteɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

  • 1a place where passenger trains stop on a railway line, typically with platforms and buildings: a railway station [in names]: Paddington Station
  • a bus or coach station.
  • 2 [usually with modifier] a place or building where a specified activity or service is based: a research station in the rainforest coastal radar stations
  • a small military base, especially of a specified kind: a naval station
  • North American a subsidiary post office.
  • Australian/NZ a large sheep or cattle farm.
  • 3 [with modifier] a company involved in broadcasting of a specified kind: a radio station
  • 4the place where someone or something stands or is placed on military or other duty: the lookout resumed his station in the bow
  • [count noun] dated one’s social rank or position: Karen was getting ideas above her station
  • 5 Botany a particular site at which an interesting or rare plant grows.

verb

[with object and adverbial of place]
  • put in or assign to a specified place for a particular purpose, especially a military one: troops were stationed in the town a young girl had stationed herself by the door

Origin:

Middle English (as a noun): via Old French from Latin statio(n-), from stare 'to stand'. Early use referred generally to ‘position’, especially 'position in life, status', and specifically, in ecclesiastical use, to 'a holy place of pilgrimage (visited as one of a succession'). The verb dates from the late 16th century