stand

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. Chiefly British. to become or be a candidate, as for public office (usually followed by for ).
19. Nautical.
    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, especially a stud) to be available as a sire, usually for a fee:

    Three Derby winners are now standing in Kentucky.

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.

   Synonyms: stomach, abide

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.

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. stands, 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. Metalworking. a rolling unit in a rolling mill.
23. Chiefly British. a complete set of arms or accoutrements for one soldier.

verb phrase

1. 1. to be in association or conspiracy with.
   2. to enjoy the favor of; be on friendly terms with.
2. 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, especially a sweetheart or date):

      I waited for Kim for an hour before I realized I'd been stood up.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.
6. 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!

7. 1. to keep or stay at a distance.
   2. to put off; evade.
8. 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.
9. 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. Nautical. to maintain a course away from shore.
10. 1. to depend on; rest on:

       The case stands on his testimony.

    2. to be particular about; demand:

       to stand on ceremony.

    3. Nautical. to maintain a course and speed.
11. 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.

12. to meet or deal with fearlessly; confront:

    to stand up to a bully.