Verb: stave off steyv óf
- Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off
"They managed to stave off the crisis through quick action";
- forefend [archaic], forfend [archaic], obviate, deflect, avert, head off, fend off, avoid, ward off
Derived forms: staves off, staved off, staving off