gaze一般指中性或比较正性的情感,如赞赏,译成汉语可以是凝视、注视等.
stare一般指一种带有强烈的情感的,就是瞪、瞪着.
下面是以上两个词在 牛津现代英汉双解词典 的部分释义：
gaze /geɪz; ˇez/
一、v.（动词）
1.[I,Ipr]产
（look long and steadily (at sb./sth.),usually in surprise or admiration）
久久地凝视,注视（通常指因惊讶或赞赏）
例子：
She gazed at me in disbelief when I told her the news.
我告诉她这消息时,她以怀疑的目光注视着我.
He just sat gazing into space/gazing through the window.
他只是坐着茫然地望着[呆呆地望着窗外].
2.[Ipr]
on/upon sb/sth,look at sb/sth
看某人[某事物]
例子：
She was the most beautiful woman he had ever gazed upon.
她是他所见过的最美丽的女子.
二、n.名词
（long steady look）凝视; 端详
例子：
Under his intense gaze she felt uncomfortable.
他目不转睛地看着她,使她觉得很不自在.
stare /steə(r); stɛr/
一、动词
1 [I,Ipr,Ip]
(at sb/sth) look (at sb/sth) with the eyes wide open in a fixed gaze (in astonishment,wonder,fear,etc)
（对某人[某物]）瞪着眼睛凝视,盯着看
例子：
It's rude to stare.盯着人看是没有礼貌的.
They all stared in/with amazement.
他们都惊讶得瞪大了眼睛.
Do you like being stared at?
你愿意人家盯着你看吗?
She was staring into the distance/into space.
她凝视着远方.
He was staring out over the fields.
他目不转睛地看着外面的田野.
2.[I,Ipr,Ip]
(at sb/sth) (of the eyes) be wide open with a fixed gaze
（指眼睛）睁大注视
例子：
He gazed at the scene with staring eyes.
他瞪大眼睛注视着这场面.
3.[Tn.pr]
sb into sth bring or force sb into a specified condition by staring
瞪着某人使其做出某种反应
例子：
She stared him into silence.
她把他盯得不吭声了.
4.(idm 习语)
be staring sb in the `face be directly in front of sb; be obvious,easy or clear
就在某人眼前; 十分明显、容易或清楚
例子：
The book I was looking for was staring me in the face.
我找的书其实就在我面前.
Defeat was staring them in the face,ie seemed certain.
他们眼看着就要失败了.
The answer to his problem was staring him in the face.
他那个问题的答案是明摆着的.
5.(phr v)
stare sb down/out stare at sb until he feels forced to lower his eyes or turn away
逼视某人直至他不敢对视下去; 以目光镇慑某人
例子：
The two children were having a competition to see who could stare the other out.
两个孩子在较量,看谁能把对方瞪得受不了.
二、名词
long fixed gaze; staring look
凝视; 注视;瞪; 盯
例子：
give sb a rude stare
不礼貌地瞪某人一眼
We received a number of curious stares from passers-by.
过路人向我们投来好奇的目光.