Station /(stā"shŭn)/

Sta·tion

Station

n.
  1. The act of standing; also, attitude or pose in standing; posture. [R.]
    A station like the herald, Mercury.
    Their manner was to stand at prayer, whereupon their meetings unto that purpose . . . had the names of stations given them.
  2. A state of standing or rest; equilibrium. [Obs.]
    All progression is performed by drawing on or impelling forward some part which was before in station, or at quiet.
  3. The spot or place where anything stands, especially where a person or thing habitually stands, or is appointed to remain for a time; as, the station of a sentinel. (Biol.)
  4. Post assigned; office; the part or department of public duty which a person is appointed to perform; sphere of duty or occupation; employment.
    By spending this day [Sunday] in religious exercises, we acquire new strength and resolution to perform God's will in our several stations the week following.
    — R. Nelson.
  5. Situation; position; location.
    The fig and date -- why love they to remain In middle station, and an even plain?
  6. State; rank; condition of life; social status.
    The greater part have kept, I see, Their station.
    They in France of the best rank and station.
  7. The fast of the fourth and sixth days of the week, Wednesday and Friday, in memory of the council which condemned Christ, and of his passion. (Eccl.)
  8. In Australia, a sheep run or cattle run, together with the buildings belonging to it; also, the homestead and buildings belonging to such a run.

Phrases & Compounds
Station bill
Same as Quarter bill, under Quarter.
Station house
The house serving for the headquarters of the police assigned to a certain district, and as a place of temporary confinement
Station master
one who has charge of a station, esp. of a railway station.
Station pointer
an instrument for locating on a chart the position of a place from which the angles subtended by three distant objects, whose positions are known, have been observed.
Station staff
an instrument for taking angles in surveying.
Syn. -- Station, Depot.

In the United States, a stopping place on a railway for passengers and freight is commonly called a depot: but to a considerable extent in official use, and in common speech, the more appropriate name, station, has been adopted.

Station

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Stationed; p. pr. & vb. n. Stationing

  1. To place; to set; to appoint or assign to the occupation of a post, place, or office; as, to station troops on the right of an army; to station a sentinel on a rampart; to station ships on the coast of Africa.
    He gained the brow of the hill, where the English phalanx was stationed.