stud

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An upright post in the framework of a wall for supporting sheets of lath, wallboard, or similar material.
2. n. A small knob, nail head, or rivet fixed in and slightly projecting from a surface.
3. n. A small ornamental button mounted on a short post for insertion through an eyelet, as on a dress shirt.
4. n. A buttonlike earring mounted on a slender post, as of gold or steel, for wearing in a pierced earlobe.
5. n. Any of various protruding pins or pegs in machinery, used mainly as a support or pivot.
6. n. One of a number of small metal cleats embedded in a snow tire to increase traction on slippery or snowy roads.
7. n. A metal crosspiece used as a brace in a link, as in a chain cable.
8. v. To provide with or construct with studs or a stud.
9. v. To set with studs or a stud: stud a bracelet with rubies.
10. v. To be scattered over: Daisies studded the meadow.
11. n. A group of animals, especially horses, kept for breeding.
12. n. A male animal, such as a stallion, that is kept for breeding.
13. n. A stable or farm where these animals are kept.
14. n. Slang A man regarded as virile and sexually active.
15. n. Slang A man regarded as attractive.
16. n. Games Stud poker.
17. idiom. at stud Available or offered for breeding. Used of animals.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A post; an upright prop or support; specifically, one of the small beams or scantlings in a building, of the height of a single story, which, with the laths nailed upon them, form the walls of the different rooms. See cut under siding.
2. n. The stem, trunk, or stock of a tree or shrub.
3. n. A transverse piece of cast-iron inserted in each link of a chain cable to prop the sides apart and strengthen it. See cut under chain.
4. n. A nail, boss, knob, or protuberance affixed to a surface, especially as an ornament.
5. n. A piece in the form of boss or knob for use as a button or fastener, or in some other way. A stud for a bolt is a rounded nut to be screwed on to the projecting end. A stud for lacing is a button set in an eyelet-hole and having an ear round which the lace is passed. A shirt-stud is an ornamental button commonly with a tang or a spire by which it can be inserted in and removed from an eyelet-hole or small buttonhole in the front of the shirt.
6. To furnish with or support by studs, or upright props.
7. To set with or as with studs.
8. To set with protuberant objects of any kind; scatter over with separate things rising above the surface: as, a bay studded with islands.
9. To lie scattered over the surface of; be spread prominently about in.
10. n. A number of horses kept for any purpose, especially for breeding or sporting.
11. n. The place where a stud is kept, especially for breeding; a stud-farm.
12. n. A stallion, especially one kept for service in breeding; a stud-horse.
13. n. Dogs kept for breeding; a kennel.
14. n. Middle English forms of stead.

Wiktionary

1. n. A male animal, especially a stud horse (stallion), kept for breeding.
2. n. A female animal, especially a studmare (broodmare), kept for breeding.
3. n. An animal (usually livestock) that has been registered and is retained for breeding.
4. n. Place (e.g. ranch) which keeps such animal(s)
5. n. colloquial A sexually attractive male; also a lover in great demand.
6. n. A small object that protrudes from something.
7. n. jewelry A small round earring.
8. n. construction A vertical post.
9. n. poker A type of poker where an individual cannot throw cards away and some of her cards are exposed (also stud poker).

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A collection of breeding horses and mares, or the place where they are kept; also, a number of horses kept for a racing, riding, etc.
2. n. obsolete A stem; a trunk.
3. n. (Arch.) An upright scanting, esp. one of the small uprights in the framing for lath and plaster partitions, and furring, and upon which the laths are nailed.
4. n. A kind of nail with a large head, used chiefly for ornament; an ornamental knob; a boss.
5. n. An ornamental button of various forms, worn in a shirt front, collar, wristband, or the like, not sewed in place, but inserted through a buttonhole or eyelet, and transferable.
6. n. A short rod or pin, fixed in and projecting from something, and sometimes forming a journal.
7. n. A stud bolt.
8. n. An iron brace across the shorter diameter of the link of a chain cable.
9. v. To adorn with shining studs, or knobs.
10. v. To set with detached ornaments or prominent objects; to set thickly, as with studs.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance (as on a vault or shield or belt)
2. n. a man who is virile and sexually active
3. v. provide with or construct with studs
4. n. adult male horse kept for breeding
5. n. an upright in house framing
6. v. scatter or intersperse like dots or studs
7. n. poker in which each player receives hole cards and the remainder are dealt face up; bets are placed after each card is dealt