Stand (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

verb (used without object), stood [stood], /stʊd/, stand·ing [stan-ding]. /ˈstæn dɪŋ/.
  1. (of a person) to be in an upright position on the feet.
  2. to rise to one's feet (often followed 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 followed 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 followed by for).
  19. Nautical.
    • to take or hold a particular course at sea.
    • to move in a certain direction: to stand offshore.
  20. (of a male domestic animal, especially a stud) to be available as a sire, usually for a fee: Three Derby winners are now standing in Kentucky.
verb (used with object), stood [stood], /stʊd/, stand·ing [stan-ding]. /ˈstæn dɪŋ/.
  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.
noun, plural stands for 28-49, stands or, especially after a numeral, stand for 50.
  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, especially 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. witness stand.
  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: The papers usually hit the stands at 5 a.m.
  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.
Verb Phrases
  1. stand by,
    • to uphold; support: She stood by him whenever he was in trouble.
    • to adhere to (an agreement, promise, etc.); affirm: She stood by her decision despite her sister's arguments.
    • to stand ready; wait: Please stand by while I fix this antenna.
    • to get ready to speak, act, etc., as at the beginning of a radio or television program.
    • to be ready to board a plane, train, or other transport if accommodations become available at the last minute.
  2. stand down,
    • to leave the witness stand.
    • to step aside; withdraw, as from a competition: I agreed to stand down so that she could run for the nomination unopposed.
    • to leave or take out of active work or service: to stand down some of the ships in the fleet.
  3. stand for,
    • to represent; symbolize: P.S. stands for “postscript.”
    • to advocate; favor: He stands for both freedom and justice.
    • to tolerate; allow: I won't stand for any nonsense!
  4. stand in with,
    • to be in association or conspiracy with.
    • to enjoy the favor of; be on friendly terms with.
  5. stand off,
    • to keep or stay at a distance.
    • to put off; evade.
  6. stand on,
    • to depend on; rest on: The case stands on his testimony.
    • to be particular about; demand: to stand on ceremony.
    • to maintain a course and speed.
  7. stand out,
    • to project; protrude: The piers stand out from the harbor wall.
    • to be conspicuous or prominent: She stands out in a crowd.
    • to persist in opposition or resistance; be inflexible.
    • to maintain a course away from shore.
  8. stand over,
    • to supervise very closely; watch constantly: He won't work unless someone stands over him.
    • to put aside temporarily; postpone: to let a project stand over until the following year.
  9. stand to,
    • to continue to hold; persist in: to stand to one's statement.
    • to keep at steadily: Stand to your rowing, men!
    • to wait in readiness; stand by: Stand to for action.
  10. stand up,
    • to come to or remain in a standing position: to stand up when being introduced.
    • to remain strong, convincing, or durable: The case will never stand up in court. Wool stands up better than silk.
    • to fail to keep an appointment with (someone, especially a sweetheart or date): I waited for Kim for an hour before I realized I'd been stood up.
  11. stand up for,
    • to defend the cause of; support: No one could understand why he stood up for an incorrigible criminal.
    • to serve a bridegroom or bride, as best man or maid (matron) of honor.
  12. to meet or deal with fearlessly; confront: to stand up to a bully.
Idioms
  1. to have a chance or possibility, especially 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.
  2. pat2 (def. 6).
  3. reason (def. 19).
  4. to testify in a courtroom.
verb stands, standing or stood (mainly intr)
  1. to be or cause to be in an erect or upright position
  2. to rise to, assume, or maintain an upright position
  3. to have a specified height when standing
  4. to be situated or located
  5. to be or exist in a specified state or condition
  6. to adopt or remain in a resolute position or attitude
  7. to be in a specified position
  8. to remain in force or continue in effect
  9. to come to a stop or halt, esp temporarily
  10. (of water, etc) to collect and remain without flowing
  11. (of a score, account, etc) to indicate the specified position of the parties involved
  12. to tolerate or bear
  13. to resist; survive
  14. to submit to
  15. to be or become a candidate
  16. to navigate in a specified direction
  17. (of a gun dog) to point at game
  18. to halt, esp to give action, repel attack, or disrupt an enemy advance when retreating
  19. (of a male domestic animal, esp a stallion) to be available as a stud
  20. to keep (type that has been set) or (of such type) to be kept, for possible use in future printings
  21. to bear the cost of; pay for
  22. to have a hope or likelihood of winning, succeeding, etc
  23. to maintain one's position firmly
  24. to maintain a stance or position in the face of opposition
  25. stand still
    • to remain motionless
    • to tolerate
  26. to be useful to someone
noun
  1. the act or an instance of standing
  2. an opinion, esp a resolutely held one
  3. a halt or standstill
  4. a place where a person or thing stands
  5. Australian and NZ
    • a position on the floor of a shearing shed allocated to one shearer
    • the shearing equipment belonging to such a position
  6. a structure, usually of wood, on which people can sit or stand
  7. a frame or rack on which such articles as coats and hats may be hung
  8. a small table or piece of furniture where articles may be placed or stored
  9. a supporting framework, esp for a tool or instrument
  10. a stall, booth, or counter from which goods may be sold
  11. an exhibition area in a trade fair
  12. a halt to give action, etc, esp one taken during a retreat and having some duration or some success
  13. an extended period at the wicket by two batsmen
  14. a growth of plants in a particular area, esp trees in a forest or a crop in a field
  15. a stop made by a touring theatrical company, pop group, etc, to give a performance (esp in the phrase one-night stand)
  16. a plot or site earmarked for the erection of a building
  17. (of a gun dog) the act of pointing at game
  18. a complete set, esp of arms or armour for one man
  19. the flags of a regiment
Stand (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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