sty

Everyday

1. A sty, or pigsty, is a pen or small building where pigs are kept. tree →
2. (informal) A sty is a very dirty or messy place, like a messy bedroom. tree →
3. A sty (also spelled stye) is a small, red, sore lump on the edge of the eyelid, caused by an infection. tree →

In the lessons

In farm and story books, pigs live in a sty. At home, parents may say «Your room is a pigsty!» meaning very messy. In health, a stye on the eyelid is common, usually harmless, and helped by a warm cloth and clean hands; do not squeeze it. Phrases: «a pig sty / pigsty», «like a pigsty», «a stye in my eye».

Examples

• The pigs rolled in the mud in their sty. tree →
• Mum said my bedroom looked like a pigsty. tree →
• I had a sore stye on my eyelid. tree →
• The farmer cleaned out the sty every morning. tree →
• A warm cloth can help a stye get better. tree →
• Don't rub a stye or squeeze it. tree →
• The three little pigs never lived in a sty. tree →
• But the prince had gone to sleep long before in the pig-sty. tree →

Note

Plural: «sties» (pens) or «styes» (eye lumps). The eye sense is often spelled «stye». Rhymes with «sky».