stiff
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stiff
(stĭf)adj. stiff·er, stiff·est
1. Difficult to bend or fold: stiff new shoes; a stiff collar.
2.
a. Not moving or operating easily or freely; resistant: a stiff hinge.
b. Lacking ease or comfort of movement; not limber: a stiff neck.
3. Not liquid, loose, or fluid; thick: stiff dough.
4.
a. Reserved in manner or strict in observing decorum: a stiff commanding officer.
b. Lacking grace or easy charm; very formal: a stiff writing style.
5. Firm, as in purpose; resolute: stiff in their opposition.
6. Having a strong, swift, steady force or movement: a stiff current; a stiff breeze.
7. Potent or strong: a stiff drink.
8.
a. Difficult to deal with, do, or meet: stiff requirements for admission; a stiff examination.
b. Harsh or severe: a stiff penalty.
c. Excessively high or onerous: a stiff price.
9. Nautical Not heeling over much in spite of great wind or the press of the sail.
adv.
1. In a stiff manner: frozen stiff.
2. To a complete extent; totally: bored stiff.
n. Slang
1. A corpse.
2. A person regarded as constrained, priggish, or overly formal.
3. A drunk.
4. A person: a lucky stiff; just an ordinary working stiff.
5. A hobo; a tramp.
6. A person who tips poorly.
tr.v. stiffed, stiff·ing, stiffs Slang
1. To tip (someone) inadequately or not at all, as for a service rendered: paid the dinner check but stiffed the waiter.
2.
a. To cheat (someone) of something owed: My roommate stiffed me out of last month's rent.
b. To fail to give or supply (something expected or promised).
[Middle English, from Old English stīf.]
stiff′ish adj.
stiff′ly adv.
stiff′ness n.
Synonyms: stiff, rigid, inflexible, inelastic, tense1
These adjectives describe what is very firm and does not easily bend or give way. Stiff, the least specific, refers to what can be flexed only with difficulty (a brush with stiff bristles); with reference to persons it often suggests a lack of ease, cold formality, or fixity, as of purpose: "stiff in opinions" (John Dryden).
Rigid and inflexible apply to what cannot be bent without damage or deformation (a table of rigid plastic; an inflexible knife blade); figuratively they describe what does not relent or yield: "under the dictates of a rigid disciplinarian" (Thomas B. Aldrich)."In religion the law is written, and inflexible, never to do evil" (Oliver Goldsmith).
Inelastic refers largely to what will not stretch and spring back without marked physical change: inelastic construction materials. By extension it implies an absence of change in the face of changing circumstances: "My little pension is woefully inelastic" (Flann O'Brien).
Tense means stretched tight and figuratively applies to what is marked by tautness or strain: "that tense moment of expectation" (Arnold Bennett).
These adjectives describe what is very firm and does not easily bend or give way. Stiff, the least specific, refers to what can be flexed only with difficulty (a brush with stiff bristles); with reference to persons it often suggests a lack of ease, cold formality, or fixity, as of purpose: "stiff in opinions" (John Dryden).
Rigid and inflexible apply to what cannot be bent without damage or deformation (a table of rigid plastic; an inflexible knife blade); figuratively they describe what does not relent or yield: "under the dictates of a rigid disciplinarian" (Thomas B. Aldrich)."In religion the law is written, and inflexible, never to do evil" (Oliver Goldsmith).
Inelastic refers largely to what will not stretch and spring back without marked physical change: inelastic construction materials. By extension it implies an absence of change in the face of changing circumstances: "My little pension is woefully inelastic" (Flann O'Brien).
Tense means stretched tight and figuratively applies to what is marked by tautness or strain: "that tense moment of expectation" (Arnold Bennett).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
stiff
(stɪf)adj
1. not easily bent; rigid; inflexible
2. not working or moving easily or smoothly: a stiff handle.
3. difficult to accept in its severity or harshness: a stiff punishment.
4. moving with pain or difficulty; not supple: a stiff neck.
5. difficult; arduous: a stiff climb.
6. unrelaxed or awkward; formal
7. firmer than liquid in consistency; thick or viscous
8. powerful; strong: a stiff breeze; a stiff drink.
9. excessively high: a stiff price.
10. (Nautical Terms) nautical (of a sailing vessel) relatively resistant to heeling or rolling. Compare tender111
11. lacking grace or attractiveness
12. stubborn or stubbornly maintained: a stiff fight.
13. obsolete tightly stretched; taut
14. slang chiefly Austral unlucky
15. slang intoxicated
16. stiff upper lip See lip9
17. stiff with informal amply provided with
n
18. a corpse
19. (Horse Racing) anything thought to be a loser or a failure; flop
adv
completely or utterly: bored stiff; frozen stiff.
vb
20. (intr) slang to fail: the film stiffed.
21. (tr) slang chiefly US to cheat or swindle
22. (tr) slang to kill
[Old English stīf; related to Old Norse stīfla to dam up, Middle Low German stīf stiff, Latin stīpēs wooden post, stīpāre to press]
ˈstiffish adj
ˈstiffly adv
ˈstiffness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
stiff
(stɪf)adj. stiff•er, stiff•est,
n., adv., v. adj.
1. rigid or firm; difficult or impossible to bend or flex: a stiff collar.
2. not moving or working easily.
3. (of a person or animal) not supple; moving with difficulty, as from cold, age, etc.
4. strong; forceful; powerful: stiff winds.
5. strong or potent to the taste or system, as a beverage or medicine.
6. resolute; firm in purpose; stubborn.
7. stubbornly continued: a stiff battle.
8. rigidly formal, as people or manners.
9. lacking ease and grace; awkward.
10. excessively regular or formal, as a design.
11. laborious or difficult, as a task.
12. severe or harsh, as a penalty or demand.
13. excessive; unusually high or great: a stiff price.
14. firm from tension; taut.
15. relatively firm in consistency, as semisolid matter; thick.
16. dense or compact; not friable: stiff soil.
17. (of a vessel) having a high resistance to rolling; stable (opposed to crank).
n. 18. Slang.
adv. a. a dead body; corpse.
b. a formal or priggish person.
c. a poor tipper; tightwad.
d. a drunk.
e. a fellow: lucky stiff.
f. a hobo.
g. a laborer: working stiffs.
19. in or to a firm or rigid state.
20. completely, intensely, or extremely: scared stiff.
v.t. 21. Slang. to fail to tip or pay (a waiter, worker, etc.).
[before 1000; Old English stīf, c. Middle Dutch, Middle Low German stīf, Old Norse stīfr; akin to stifle1, steeve1]
stiff′ish, adj.
stiff′ly, adv.
stiff′ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
stiff
- rigidulous - Describing something somewhat rigid or a little stiff.
- clumse - If you are clumse, you are stiff from the cold.
- string - Etymologically, something that has been pulled "taut, stiff."
- stone - From a Germanic base meaning "solidity" or "stiffness."
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
stiff
Past participle: stiffed
Gerund: stiffing
| Imperative |
|---|
| stiff |
| stiff |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  stiff - an ordinary man; "a lucky stiff"; "a working stiff"adult male, man - an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman); "there were two women and six men on the bus" |
| 2. |  stiff - the dead body of a human being; "the cadaver was intended for dissection"; "the end of the police search was the discovery of a corpse"; "the murderer confessed that he threw the stiff in the river"; "honor comes to bless the turf that wraps their clay"dead body, body - a natural object consisting of a dead animal or person; "they found the body in the lake" cremains - the remains of a dead body after cremation | |
| Adj. | 1. | stiff - not moving or operating freely; "a stiff hinge" immobile - not capable of movement or of being moved |
| 2. | stiff - powerful; "a stiff current"; "a stiff breeze" strong - having strength or power greater than average or expected; "a strong radio signal"; "strong medicine"; "a strong man" | |
| 3. | stiff - rigidly formal; "a starchy manner"; "the letter was stiff and formal"; "his prose has a buckram quality" formal - being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress); "pay one's formal respects"; "formal dress"; "a formal ball"; "the requirement was only formal and often ignored"; "a formal education" | |
| 4. | stiff - having a strong physiological or chemical effect; "a potent toxin"; "potent liquor"; "a potent cup of tea", "a stiff drink" effective, effectual, efficacious - producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect; "an air-cooled motor was more effective than a witch's broomstick for rapid long-distance transportation"-LewisMumford; "effective teaching methods"; "effective steps toward peace"; "made an effective entrance"; "his complaint proved to be effectual in bringing action"; "an efficacious law" fertile - capable of reproducing powerful - having great power or force or potency or effect; "the most powerful government in western Europe"; "his powerful arms"; "a powerful bomb"; "the horse's powerful kick"; "powerful drugs"; "a powerful argument" | |
| 5. |  stiff - marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable; "firm convictions"; "a firm mouth"; "steadfast resolve"; "a man of unbendable perseverence"; "unwavering loyalty"resolute - firm in purpose or belief; characterized by firmness and determination; "stood resolute against the enemy"; "faced with a resolute opposition"; "a resolute and unshakeable faith" | |
| 6. | stiff - incapable of or resistant to bending; "a rigid strip of metal"; "a table made of rigid plastic"; "a palace guardsman stiff as a poker"; "stiff hair"; "a stiff neck" inflexible - resistant to being bent; "an inflexible iron bar"; "an inflexible knife blade"; | |
| 7. |  stiff - very drunk besotted, blind drunk, blotto, crocked, fuddled, pie-eyed, slopped, sloshed, smashed, soaked, soused, sozzled, squiffy, pixilated, plastered, cockeyed, loaded, wet, tight jargon, lingo, patois, argot, vernacular, slang, cant - a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves); "they don't speak our lingo" drunk, inebriated, intoxicated - stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol); "a noisy crowd of intoxicated sailors"; "helplessly inebriated" | |
| Adv. | 1. | stiff - extremely; "bored stiff"; "frightened stiff" |
| 2. | stiff - in a stiff manner; "his hands lay stiffly" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
stiff
adjective
1. inflexible, rigid, unyielding, hard, firm, tight, solid, tense, hardened, brittle, taut, solidified, unbending, inelastic The film is crammed with corsets, bustles and stiff collars.
inflexible flexible, elastic, pliable, pliant, yielding, limp, ductile, bendable
inflexible flexible, elastic, pliable, pliant, yielding, limp, ductile, bendable
2. unsupple, arthritic, creaky (informal), rheumaticky I'm stiff all over right now.
unsupple flexible, supple, lithe, limber, lissom(e)
unsupple flexible, supple, lithe, limber, lissom(e)
3. formal, constrained, reserved, forced, laboured, cold, mannered, wooden, artificial, uneasy, chilly, unnatural, austere, pompous, prim, stilted, starchy (informal), punctilious, priggish, standoffish, ceremonious, unrelaxed They always seemed a little awkward with each other, a bit stiff and formal.
formal easy, natural, relaxed, casual, informal, unofficial, spontaneous, laid-back, unceremonious
formal easy, natural, relaxed, casual, informal, unofficial, spontaneous, laid-back, unceremonious
4. vigorous, great, strong, determined, spirited, resolute, steely, unyielding, unflagging The film faces stiff competition for the nomination.
5. severe, strict, harsh, hard, heavy, sharp, extreme, cruel, drastic, rigorous, stringent, oppressive, austere, inexorable, pitiless stiff anti-drugs laws
7. difficult, hard, tough, exacting, formidable, trying, fatiguing, uphill, arduous, laborious the stiff climb to the finish
8. potent, strong, powerful, alcoholic, intoxicating a stiff whisky
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
stiff
adjective1. Not changing shape or bending:
3. So rigidly constrained, formal, or awkward as to lack all grace and spontaneity:
4. Indicating or possessing determination, resolution, or persistence:
5. Having a high concentration of the distinguishing ingredient:
6. Vastly exceeding a normal limit, as in cost:
2. Slang. A person who is habitually drunk:
3. Slang. A stingy person:
Informal: penny pincher.
Slang: cheapskate, tightwad.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
جَامِدرَسْمي وَغَيْر وُدّيشاق، صَعْبشَديد، قَويصَلْب، يابِس
труп
tuhýztuhlýnepoddajnýnepohyblivýostrý
stivstrengsværskrapstærk
jäykkäkankeakovauhriheebo
krut
kimértmindene fájnehezen mozgó
allmikill, stífurerfiîurópersónulegur, ólipuròykkurstífur
堅い払い忘れる無銭飲食硬い食い逃げ
딱딱한
mirtinai įkyrėtimirtinai išgąsdintistandinanti medžiagastandintiužstrigęs
biezscietsformālsgrūtsoficiāls
stuhnutý
otrdeltogtrd
stel
แข็ง
cứng
stiff
[stɪf]A. ADJ (stiffer (compar) (stiffest (superl)))
1. (= rigid) [card, paper, chair] → rígido, duro; [collar, fabric] → duro, tieso; [brush, boots] → duro; [corpse] → rígido
2. (= firm) [paste, mixture] → compacto, consistente
beat the egg whites until stiff → bata las claras de huevo a punto de nieve
beat the egg whites until stiff → bata las claras de huevo a punto de nieve
3. (Physiol) [joints, limbs, muscles] → entumecido, agarrotado; [fingers] → rígido, agarrotado; [movement] → rígido
inactivity can make your joints stiff → sus articulaciones se pueden entumecer or agarrotar por la inactividad
to become or get stiff [joints, limbs, muscles] → entumecerse, agarrotarse
to feel stiff (because of cold, injury etc) → sentirse agarrotado; (after exercise) → tener agujetas
I feel stiff all over (after exercise) → tengo agujetas por todo el cuerpo
to have a stiff neck → tener tortícolis
to be stiff with cold → estar aterido, estar entumecido de frío
to be (as) stiff as a board or poker → estar más tieso que un palo
to keep a stiff upper lip → mantener el tipo → poner a mal tiempo buena cara
inactivity can make your joints stiff → sus articulaciones se pueden entumecer or agarrotar por la inactividad
to become or get stiff [joints, limbs, muscles] → entumecerse, agarrotarse
to feel stiff (because of cold, injury etc) → sentirse agarrotado; (after exercise) → tener agujetas
I feel stiff all over (after exercise) → tengo agujetas por todo el cuerpo
to have a stiff neck → tener tortícolis
to be stiff with cold → estar aterido, estar entumecido de frío
to be (as) stiff as a board or poker → estar más tieso que un palo
to keep a stiff upper lip → mantener el tipo → poner a mal tiempo buena cara
4. (= unresponsive) [door, drawer, lock] → duro, que no abre bien, atorado (esp LAm)
the lock was stiff → costaba abrir el cerrojo, el cerrojo no abría bien
the lock was stiff → costaba abrir el cerrojo, el cerrojo no abría bien
5. (= cold, formal) [smile, bow] → frío; [person, manner] → estirado, frío; [atmosphere] → estirado, frío
he gave a stiff bow → se inclinó con frialdad or con formalidad
stiff and formal [person, manner, atmosphere] → estirado y formal
he gave a stiff bow → se inclinó con frialdad or con formalidad
stiff and formal [person, manner, atmosphere] → estirado y formal
6. (= tough) [climb, test] → difícil, duro; [penalty, sentence, fine] → severo; [resistance] → tenaz; [challenge] → difícil; [opposition, competition] → duro
7. (= high) [price] → excesivo, exorbitante; [price rise] → fuerte
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
stiff
[ˈstɪf] adj
(= rigid) [card, cloth, material] → raide, rigide; [brush] → dur(e)
the stiff upper lip (British) → le flegme
to keep a stiff upper lip → faire bonne contenance
We must try to keep a stiff upper lip → Nous devons essayer de faire bonne contenance.
the stiff upper lip (British) → le flegme
to keep a stiff upper lip → faire bonne contenance
We must try to keep a stiff upper lip → Nous devons essayer de faire bonne contenance.
(= hard to open) [door, window] → dur(e)
[muscles] → raide
to be stiff [person] (from exercise) → avoir des courbatures; (from sitting still) → avoir des courbatures
to feel stiff (from exercise) → avoir des courbatures; (from sitting still) → avoir des courbatures
to have a stiff neck → avoir le torticolis
to be stiff [person] (from exercise) → avoir des courbatures; (from sitting still) → avoir des courbatures
to feel stiff (from exercise) → avoir des courbatures; (from sitting still) → avoir des courbatures
to have a stiff neck → avoir le torticolis
(= unfriendly) [person, manner, behaviour, smile] → guindé(e)
(= difficult) [competition, laws, penalties] → sévère; [opposition] → farouche; [climb] → difficile
to meet stiff opposition → rencontrer une opposition farouche
to meet stiff opposition → rencontrer une opposition farouche
(= strong) [wind, breeze] → cinglant(e)
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
stiff
adj (+er)
resistance, drink, dose → stark; fight → zäh, hart; sentence, challenge, competition → hart; opposition → stark, heftig; breeze → steif; climb, test → schwierig; examination, task → schwer, schwierig; penalty, punishment → schwer; price, demand → hoch; that’s a bit stiff → das ist ganz schön happig (inf)
door, lock, drawer → klemmend
adv → steif
n (inf) → Leiche f
stiff
:Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
stiff
[stɪf] adj (-er (comp) (-est (superl)))a. (gen) → rigido/a; (starched, shirt) → inamidato/a; (brush) → duro/a; (dough) → compatto/a, denso/a; (arm, joint) → rigido/a, indolenzito/a; (muscle) → legato/a
to have a stiff neck/back → avere il torcicollo/mal di schiena
to be or feel stiff → essere or sentirsi indolenzito/a
the door's stiff → la porta si apre (or si chiude) con difficoltà
as stiff as a ramrod or a poker → dritto/a come un palo
to keep a stiff upper lip (Brit) (fig) → restare impassibile
to have a stiff neck/back → avere il torcicollo/mal di schiena
to be or feel stiff → essere or sentirsi indolenzito/a
the door's stiff → la porta si apre (or si chiude) con difficoltà
as stiff as a ramrod or a poker → dritto/a come un palo
to keep a stiff upper lip (Brit) (fig) → restare impassibile
b. (fig) (climb, examination, test) → arduo/a, difficile; (competition, breeze, drink) → forte; (resistance) → tenace; (punishment) → severo/a; (price, fine) → salato/a; (manner, smile, reception) → freddo/a
that's a bit stiff! (fam) → è un po' troppo!
it was a stiff price to pay (fig) → l'hanno pagata cara
bored stiff → annoiato/a a morte
that's a bit stiff! (fam) → è un po' troppo!
it was a stiff price to pay (fig) → l'hanno pagata cara
bored stiff → annoiato/a a morte
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
stiff
(stif) adjective1. rigid or firm, and not easily bent, folded etc. He has walked with a stiff leg since he injured his knee; stiff cardboard.
2. moving, or moved, with difficulty, pain etc. I can't turn the key – the lock is stiff; I woke up with a stiff neck; I felt stiff the day after the climb.
3. (of a cooking mixture etc) thick, and not flowing. a stiff dough.
4. difficult to do. a stiff examination.
5. strong. a stiff breeze.
6. (of a person or his manner etc) formal and unfriendly. I received a stiff note from the bank manager.
ˈstiffly adverbˈstiffness noun
ˈstiffen verb
to make or become stiff(er). You can stiffen cotton with starch; He stiffened when he heard the unexpected sound.
ˈstiffening noun material used to stiffen something. The collar has some stiffening in it.
bore/scare stiff to bore or frighten very much.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
stiff
→ جَامِد tuhý stiv steif δύσκαμπτος rígido, tieso jäykkä raide krut rigido 堅い 딱딱한 stijf stiv sztywny rígido жесткий stel แข็ง katı cứng 坚硬的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
stiff
a. tieso-a, rígido-a;
___ neck → cuello ___.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
stiff
adj rígido, tieso; Do your hands feel stiff?..¿Siente las manos rígidas (tiesas)?English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.