sit
sit (sĭt) verb
sat (săt), sitting, sits
verb, intransitive
1. To rest with the torso vertical and the body supported on the buttocks.
2. a. To rest with the hindquarters lowered onto a supporting surface. Used of animals. b. To perch. Used of birds.
3. To cover eggs for hatching; brood.
4. To be situated or located: a house that sits on a hill.
5. To lie or rest: Dishes were sitting on a shelf. See Usage Note at set1.
6. To pose for an artist or a photographer.
7. a. To occupy a seat as a member of a body of officials: sit in Congress. b. To be in session.
8. To remain inactive or unused: Her expensive skis sat gathering dust.
9. To affect one with or as if with a burden; weigh: Official duties sat heavily upon the governor.
10. To fit, fall, or drape in a specified manner: The jacket sits perfectly on you.
11. To be agreeable to one; please: The idea didn't sit well with any of us.
12. Chiefly British. To take an examination, as for a degree.
13. To blow from a particular direction. Used of the wind.
14. To keep watch or take care of a child.
verb, transitive
1. To cause to sit; seat: Sit yourself over there.
2. To keep one's seat on (an animal): She sits her horse well.
3. To sit on (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.
4. To provide seating accommodation for: a theater that sits 1,000 people.
noun
1. a. The act of sitting. b. A period of time spent sitting.
2. The way in which an article of clothing, such as a dress or jacket, fits.
phrasal verb.
sit down
To take a seat. sit in
1. To attend or participate in as a visitor: sat in on the discussion.
2. To take part in a sit-in.
sit on or upon)
1. To confer about.
2. Informal. To suppress or repress: sat on the evidence.
3. Informal. To postpone action or resolution regarding.
4. Slang. To rebuke sharply; reprimand.
sit out
1. To stay until the end of.
2. To refrain from taking part in: sit out a dance.
sit up
1. To rise from lying down to a sitting position.
2. To sit with the spine erect.
3. To stay up later than the customary bedtime.
4. To become suddenly alert: The students sat up when he mentioned the test.
idiom.
sit on (one's) hands
To fail to act.
sit pretty Informal
To be in a very favorable position.
sit tight Informal
To be patient and await the next move.
[Middle English sitten, from Old English sittan.]