A policeman spots a woman driving and knitting at the same time. Driving up beside her, he shouts out the window...
"Pull over!"
"No," she shouts back, "a pair of socks!"
—v. (past and past part. Stood) 1 have, take, or maintain an upright position, esp. On the feet or a base.
- be situated (here once stood a village).
- be of a specified height.
- be in a specified state (stands accused; it stands as follows).
- set in an upright or specified position (stood it against the wall).
- a move to and remain in a specified position (stand aside). B take a specified attitude (stand aloof).
- maintain a position; avoid falling, moving, or being moved.
- assume a stationary position; cease to move.
- remain valid or unaltered. 10 naut. Hold a specified course. 11 endure, tolerate. 12 provide at one's own expense (stood him a drink). 13 (often foll. By for) be a candidate (for office etc.) (stood for parliament). 14 act in a specified capacity (stood proxy). 15 undergo (trial). —n. - cessation from progress, stoppage.
- a mil. Halt made to repel an attack. B resistance to attack or compulsion (esp. Make a stand). C cricket prolonged period at the wicket by two batsmen.
- position taken up; attitude adopted.
- rack, set of shelves, etc. For storage.
- open-fronted stall or structure for a trader, exhibitor, etc.
- standing-place for vehicles.
- a raised structure to sit or stand on. B us witness-box.
- each halt made for a performance on a tour.
- group of growing plants (stand of trees). as it stands 1 in its present condition.
- in the present circumstances. Stand by 1 stand nearby; look on without interfering.
- uphold, support (a person).
- adhere to (a promise etc.).
- be ready for action. Stand a chance see *chance. Stand corrected accept correction. Stand down withdraw from a position or candidacy. Stand for 1 represent, signify, imply.
- colloq. Endure, tolerate. Stand one's ground not yield. Stand in (usu. Foll. By for) deputize. Stand off 1 move or keep away.
- temporarily dismiss (an employee). Stand on insist on, observe scrupulously. Stand on one's own feet (or own two feet) be self-reliant or independent. Stand out 1 be prominent or outstanding.
- (usu. Foll. By against, for) persist in opposition or support. Stand to 1 mil. Stand ready for an attack.
- abide by.
- be likely or certain to. Stand to reason be obvious. Stand up 1 a rise to one's feet. B come to, remain in, or place in a standing position.
- (of an argument etc.) Be valid.
- colloq. Fail to keep an appointment with.
STANK
past of *stink.
STARE
—v. (-ring) 1 (usu. Foll. By at) look fixedly, esp. In curiosity, surprise, horror, etc.
- reduce (a person) to a specified condition by staring (stared me into silence). —n. Staring gaze. stare a person in the face be evident or imminent. Stare a person out stare at a person until he or she looks away. [old english]
- a cause or enable (a person) to make a beginning (started me in business). B (foll. By pres. Part.) Cause (a person) to begin (started me coughing).
- (often foll. By up) establish.
- give a signal to (competitors) to start in a race.
- (often foll. By up, from, etc.) Jump in surprise, pain, etc. 10 spring out, up, etc. 11 conceive (a baby). 12 rouse (game etc.). 13 a (of timbers etc.) Spring out; give way. B cause (timbers etc.) To do this. —n. - beginning.
- place from which a race etc. Begins.
- advantage given at the beginning of a race etc.
- advantageous initial position in life, business, etc.
- sudden movement of surprise, pain, etc. for a start colloq. As a beginning. Start off begin; begin to move. Start out begin a journey. Start up arise; occur. [old english]
STASH
colloq. —v. (often foll. By away) 1 conceal; put in a safe place.
- hoard. —n. - hiding-place.
- thing hidden. [origin unknown]
STATE
of emergency n. Condition of danger or disaster in a country, with normal constitutional procedures suspended.
- of the art —n. Current stage of esp. Technological development. —attrib. Adj. (usu. State-of-the-art) absolutely up-to-date (state-of-the-art weaponry).
- school n. School largely managed and funded by the public authorities.
- —n. - existing condition or position of a person or thing.
- colloq. A excited or agitated mental condition (esp. In a state). B untidy condition.
- (usu. State) a political community under one government. B this as part of a federal republic.
- (usu. State) (attrib.) A of, for, or concerned with the state. B reserved for or done on occasions of ceremony.
- (usu. State) civil government.
- pomp.
- (the states) usa. —v. (-ting) 1 express in speech or writing.
- fix, specify.
- mus. Play (a theme etc.), esp. For the first time. in state with all due ceremony. Lie in state be laid in a public place of honour before burial. [partly from *estate, partly from latin *status]
STAVE
—n. - each of the curved slats forming the sides of a cask, pail, etc.
- = *staff n. 3.
- stanza or verse. —v. (-ving; past and past part. Stove or staved) (usu. Foll. By in) break a hole in, damage, crush by forcing inwards. stave off avert or defer (danger etc.). [from *staff]
STEAD
n. in a person's (or thing's) stead as a substitute; in a person's or thing's place. Stand a person in good stead be advantageous or useful to him or her. [old english, = place]
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