stand: Meaning and Definition of

stand

Pronunciation: (stand), [key]
— v., n., pl. stood, stand•ing, stands stands, stand
—v.i.
  1. (of a person) to be in an upright position on the feet.
  2. to rise to one's feet (often fol. by up).
  3. to have a specified height when in this position: a basketball player who stands six feet seven inches.
  4. to stop or remain motionless or steady on the feet.
  5. to take a position or place as indicated: to stand aside.
  6. to remain firm or steadfast, as in a cause.
  7. to take up or maintain a position or attitude with respect to a person, issue, or the like: to stand as sponsor for a person.
  8. to have or adopt a certain policy, course, or attitude, as of adherence, support, opposition, or resistance: He stands for free trade.
  9. (of things) to be in an upright or vertical position, be set on end, or rest on or as on a support.
  10. to be set, placed, fixed, located, or situated: The building stands at 34th Street and 5th Avenue.
  11. (of an account, score, etc.) to show, be, or remain as indicated; show the specified position of the parties concerned: The score stood 18 to 14 at the half.
  12. to remain erect or whole; resist change, decay, or destruction (often fol. by up): The ruins still stand. The old building stood up well.
  13. to continue in force or remain valid: The agreement stands as signed.
  14. to remain still, stationary, or unused: The bicycle stood in the basement all winter.
  15. to be or become stagnant, as water.
  16. (of persons or things) to be or remain in a specified state, condition, relation, relative position, etc.: He stood in jeopardy of losing his license.
  17. to have the possibility or likelihood: He stands to gain a sizable profit through the sale of the house.
  18. to become or be a candidate, as for public office (usually fol. by for).
  19. to stand offshore.
    1. to take or hold a particular course at sea.
    2. to move in a certain direction:to stand offshore.
  20. (of a male domestic animal, esp. a stud) to be available as a sire, usually for a fee: Three Derby winners are now standing in Kentucky.
—v.t.
  1. to cause to stand; set upright; set: Stand the chair by the lamp.
  2. to face or encounter: to stand an assault.
  3. to undergo or submit to: to stand trial.
  4. to endure or undergo without harm or damage or without giving way: His eyes are strong enough to stand the glare.
  5. to endure or tolerate: She can't stand her father.
  6. to treat or pay for: I'll stand you to a drink when the manuscript is in.
  7. to perform the duty of or participate in as part of one's job or duty: to stand watch aboard ship.
  8. to have a chance or possibility, esp. of winning or surviving: He's a good shortstop but doesn't stand a chance of making the major leagues because he can't hit.
  9. She stood by him whenever he was in trouble.
    1. to uphold; support:She stood by him whenever he was in trouble.
    2. to adhere to (an agreement, promise, etc.); affirm:She stood by her decision despite her sister's arguments.
    3. to stand ready; wait:Please stand by while I fix this antenna.
    4. to get ready to speak, act, etc., as at the beginning of a radio or television program.
    5. to be ready to board a plane, train, or other transport if accommodations become available at the last minute.
  10. I agreed to stand down so that she could run for the nomination unopposed.
    1. Law.to leave the witness stand.
    2. to step aside; withdraw, as from a competition:I agreed to stand down so that she could run for the nomination unopposed.
    3. to leave or take out of active work or service:to stand down some of the ships in the fleet.
  11. P.S. stands for “postscript.”
    1. to represent; symbolize:P.S. stands for “postscript.”
    2. to advocate; favor:He stands for both freedom and justice.
    3. Informal.to tolerate; allow:I won't stand for any nonsense!
    1. to be in association or conspiracy with.
    2. to enjoy the favor of; be on friendly terms with.
    1. to keep or stay at a distance.
    2. to put off; evade.
  12. The case stands on his testimony.
    1. to depend on; rest on:The case stands on his testimony.
    2. to be particular about; demand:to stand on ceremony.
    3. Naut.to maintain a course and speed.
  13. The piers stand out from the harbor wall.
    1. to project; protrude:The piers stand out from the harbor wall.
    2. to be conspicuous or prominent:She stands out in a crowd.
    3. to persist in opposition or resistance; be inflexible.
    4. Naut.to maintain a course away from shore.
  14. He won't work unless someone stands over him.
    1. to supervise very closely; watch constantly:He won't work unless someone stands over him.
    2. to put aside temporarily; postpone:to let a project stand over until the following year.
  15. See (def. 6).
  16. to stand to one's statement.
    1. to continue to hold; persist in:to stand to one's statement.
    2. to keep at steadily:Stand to your rowing, men!
    3. to wait in readiness; stand by:Stand to for action.
  17. See(def. 11).
  18. to stand up when being introduced.
    1. to come to or remain in a standing position:to stand up when being introduced.
    2. to remain strong, convincing, or durable:The case will never stand up in court. Wool stands up better than silk.
    3. Slang.to fail to keep an appointment with (someone, esp. a sweetheart or date):I waited for Kim for an hour before I realized I'd been stood up.
  19. No one could understand why he stood up for an incorrigible criminal.
    1. to defend the cause of; support:No one could understand why he stood up for an incorrigible criminal.
    2. to serve a bridegroom or bride, as best man or maid (matron) of honor.
  20. to meet or deal with fearlessly; confront: to stand up to a bully.
—n.
  1. the act of standing; an assuming of or a remaining in an upright position.
  2. a cessation of motion; halt or stop.
  3. a determined effort for or against something, esp. a final defensive effort: Custer's last stand.
  4. a determined policy, position, attitude, etc., taken or maintained: We must take a stand on political issues.
  5. the place in which a person or thing stands; station.
  6. See
  7. a raised platform, as for a speaker, a band, or the like.
  8. a raised section of seats for spectators; grandstand.
  9. a framework on or in which articles are placed for support, exhibition, etc.: a hat stand.
  10. a piece of furniture of various forms, on or in which to put articles (often used in combination): a nightstand; a washstand.
  11. a small, light table.
  12. a stall, booth, counter, or the like, where articles are displayed for sale or where some business is carried on: a fruit stand.
  13. newsstand:a.m. The papers usually hit the stands at 5
  14. a site or location for business: After 20 years the ice-cream vendor was still at the same stand.
  15. a place or station occupied by vehicles available for hire: a taxicab stand.
  16. the vehicles occupying such a place.
  17. the growing trees, or those of a particular species or grade, in a given area.
  18. a standing growth, as of grass, wheat, etc.
  19. a halt of a theatrical company on tour, to give a performance or performances: a series of one-night stands on the strawhat trail.
  20. the town at which a touring theatrical company gives a performance.
  21. hive (def. 2).
  22. a rolling unit in a rolling mill.
  23. a complete set of arms or accoutrements for one soldier.
  24. to testify in a courtroom.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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