Wordnet 3.0
VERB (1)
1.
prevent the occurrence of;
prevent from happening;
- Example: "Let's avoid a confrontation"- Example: "head off a confrontation"- Example: "avert a strike"[syn: debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
stave off
v 1: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; "Let's
avoid a confrontation"; "head off a confrontation"; "avert
a strike" [syn: debar, forefend, forfend, obviate,
deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off,
avoid, ward off]