stand

I. verb (stood; standing) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English standan; akin to Old High German stantan, stān to stand, Latin stare, Greek histanai to cause to stand, set, histasthai to stand, be standing Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. a. to support oneself on the feet in an erect position b. to be a specified height when fully erect <

stands six feet two

> c. to rise to an erect position 2. a. to take up or maintain a specified position or posture <

stand aside

> <

can you stand on your head

> b. to maintain one's position <

stand firm

> 3. to be in a particular state or situation <

stands accused

> 4. to hold a course at sea 5. obsolete hesitate 6. a. to have or maintain a relative position in or as if in a graded scale <

stands first in the class

> b. to be in a position to gain or lose because of an action taken or a commitment made <

stands to make quite a profit

> 7. chiefly British to be a candidate ; run 8. a. to rest or remain upright on a base or lower end <

a clock stood on the mantle

> b. to occupy a place or location <

the house stands on a knoll

> 9. a. to remain stationary or inactive <

the car stood in the garage for a week

> b. to gather slowly and remain <

tears standing in her eyes

> 10. agree, accord — used chiefly in the expression it stands to reason 11. a. to exist in a definite written or printed form <

copy a passage exactly as it stands

> b. to remain valid or efficacious <

the order given last week still stands

> 12. of a male animal to be available as a sire — used especially of horses 13. to refuse additional cards (as in blackjack) transitive verb 1. a. to endure or undergo successfully <

this book will stand the test of time

> b. to tolerate without flinching ; bear courageously <

stands pain well

> c. to endure the presence or personality of <

can't stand the boss

> d. to derive benefit or enjoyment from <

you look like you could stand a drink

> 2. to remain firm in the face of <

stand a siege

> 3. to submit to <

stand trial

> 4. a. to perform the duty of <

stand guard

> b. to participate in (a military formation) 5. to pay the cost of (a treat) ; pay for <

I'll stand you a dinner

> <

stand drinks

> 6. to cause to stand ; set upright 7. to make available for breeding <

stand a stallion

> Synonyms: see bear • stander noun II. noun Date: 1590 1. a. a halt for defense or resistance b. an often defensive effort of some duration or degree of success <

a goal-line stand

> c. (1) a stop made to give a performance <

a 6-game stand at home

> (2) a town where such a stop is made 2. an act of stopping or staying in one place 3. a. a place or post where one stands b. a strongly or aggressively held position especially on a debatable issue <

took a stand against higher taxes

> 4. a. the place taken by a witness for testifying in court b. plural (1) a section of the tiered seats for spectators of a sport or spectacle (2) the occupants of such seats c. a raised platform (as for a speaker or hunter) serving as a point of vantage 5. a. a small often open-air structure for a small retail business <

a vegetable stand

> <

a hot dog stand

> b. a site fit for business opportunity 6. a place where a passenger vehicle stops or parks <

a taxi stand

> 7. hive 2 8. a frame on or in which something may be placed for support 9. a group of plants growing in a continuous area 10. a standing posture