stand
stand (stănd) verb
stood (std), standing, stands
verb, intransitive
1. a. To rise to an upright position on the feet. b. To assume or maintain an upright position as specified: stand straight; stand to one side.
2. a. To maintain an upright position on the feet. b. To maintain an upright or vertical position on a base or support: The urn stands on a pedestal. c. To be placed or situated: The building stands at the corner.
3. a. To remain stable, upright, or intact: The old school still stands. b. To remain valid, effective, or unaltered: The agreement stands.
4. To be or show a specified figure or amount: The balance stands at $500.
5. To measure a specified height when in an upright position: stands six feet tall.
6. To take up or maintain a specified position, altitude, or course: He stands on his earlier offer. We will stand firm.
7. To be in a position of possible gain or loss: She stands to make a fortune.
8. a. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view. b. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.
9. To be at a specified level on or as if on a scale: stands third in her class; stands high in reputation.
10. a. To come to a stop; remain motionless. b. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
11. To remain without flowing or being disturbed; be or become stagnant.
12. Nautical. To take or hold a particular course or direction: a ship standing to windward.
13. To be available as a sire. Used of horses.
14. Chiefly British. To be a candidate for public office.
verb, transitive
1. To cause to stand; place upright.
2. To engage in or encounter: stand battle.
3. a. To resist successfully; withstand: stand the test of time; will not stand close examination. b. To put up with patiently or resolutely; bear: can't stand the heat. See synonyms at bear1.
4. To submit to or undergo: stand trial.
5. To tolerate and benefit from: I could stand a good night's sleep.
6. To perform the duty of: stand guard.
7. Informal. To treat (someone) or pay the cost of (food or drink): She stood him to a drink. We'll stand dinner.
noun
1. The act of standing.
2. A ceasing of work or activity; a standstill or halt.
3. A stop on a performance tour.
4. The place or station where a person stands.
5. A booth, stall, or counter for the display of goods for sale.
6. A parking space reserved for taxis.
7. A desperate or decisive effort at defense or resistance, as in a battle: made their stand at the river.
8. A position or an opinion one is prepared to uphold: must take a stand on environmental issues.
9. stands The bleachers at a playing field or stadium.
10. Law. A witness stand.
11. A small rack, prop, or table for holding any of various articles: a music stand; a bedside stand.
12. A group or growth of tall plants or trees: a stand of pine.
phrasal verb.
stand by
1. To be ready or available to act.
2. To wait for something, such as a broadcast, to resume.
3. To remain uninvolved; refrain from acting: stood by and let him get away.
4. To remain loyal to; aid or support: stands by her friends.
5. To keep or maintain: stood by her decision.
stand down
1. Law. To leave a witness stand.
2. To withdraw, as from a political contest.
3. To go off duty.
stand for
1. To represent; symbolize.
2. To advocate or support: stands for freedom of the press.
3. To put up with; tolerate: We will not stand for impertinent behavior.
stand in
To act as a stand-in. stand off
1. To stay at a distance; remain apart or aloof.
2. To put off; evade.
3. Nautical. To maintain a course away from shore.
stand on
1. To be based on; depend on: The success of the project stands on management's support of it.
2. To insist on observance of: stand on ceremony; stand on one's rights.
stand out
1. To protrude; project.
2. To be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent.
3. To refuse compliance or maintain opposition; hold out: stand out against a verdict.
4. Nautical. To maintain a course away from shore.
stand over
1. To watch or supervise closely.
2. To hold over; postpone.
stand to
To take up positions for action. stand up
1. To remain valid, sound, or durable: His claim will not stand up in court. Our old car has stood up well over time.
2. Informal. To fail to keep a date with.
idiom.
stand a chance
To have a chance, as of gaining or accomplishing something.
stand on (one's) own feet or stand on (one's) two feet
To be independent and responsible for oneself.
stand pat
1. To refuse to change one's position or opinion.
2. Games. To play one's poker hand without drawing.
stand to reason
To be consistent with reason: It stands to reason that if we leave late, we will arrive late.
stand up for
To side with; defend.
stand up to
To confront fearlessly; face up to.
stand up with
To act as best man or maid of honor for (the groom or bride) at a wedding.
[Middle English standen, from Old English standan.]
standʹer noun