1. present participle of stave; breaking or crushing inward
2. warding off or preventing something undesirable
Usage: often used with ‘off’

Examples

• The impact was staving in the side of the barrel.
• They were staving off hunger with small snacks.
• The boat’s hull was staving under the pressure.
• She kept staving off his questions about her plans.
• The workers were staving the wooden planks together.
• He was staving off bankruptcy with temporary loans.