stiff
8 ENTRIES FOUND:
stiffer;
stiffest
stiffer;
stiffest
Britannica Dictionary definition of STIFF
[also more stiff; most stiff]
1
a
:
difficult to bend or move
-
stiff valves/cardboard/fabric
-
stiff hairs/bristles
-
The brush was as stiff as a board. [=very stiff]
b
:
painful to move or use
-
stiff muscles
-
a stiff back/neck
-
When I got out of bed this morning my back was stiff as a board.
also
:
showing pain in movement or use
2
:
thick and difficult to stir or pour
-
Beat the egg whites until they are stiff.
-
stiff batter
3
:
difficult, strict, or severe
-
a stiff [=heavy] penalty/fine
-
a stiff task/challenge
-
stiff competition
4
:
not graceful, relaxed, or friendly
:
too formal
-
Our host seemed somewhat stiff.
-
a stiff manner
-
stiff writing/dialogue
5
:
very expensive
6
:
strong and forceful
-
a stiff wind/breeze
-
The troops encountered stiff resistance.
7
:
containing a lot of alcohol
-
a stiff drink/cocktail
stiff upper lip
:
a calm and determined attitude in a difficult situation
-
She managed to keep a stiff upper lip even as everything fell apart.
— stiffly
adverb-
“Excuse me,” he said stiffly.
— stiffness
noun [noncount]
2
stiff
/ˈstɪf/
adverb
2
stiff
/ˈstɪf/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of STIFF
informal
:
very much
:
to an extreme degree
-
She was scared/bored stiff.
frozen stiff
1
:
completely stiff because of being wet and frozen
-
The shirt was frozen stiff.
2
informal
:
extremely cold
-
We were frozen stiff by the time we got indoors.
3
stiff
/ˈstɪf/
noun
plural
stiffs
3
stiff
/ˈstɪf/
noun
plural
stiffs
Britannica Dictionary definition of STIFF
[count]
informal
1
:
the body of a dead person
2
US
a
:
a person who you think is lucky, unlucky, etc.
-
You lucky stiff!
-
That poor stiff never gets a break.
b
:
an ordinary or dull person
-
(disapproving) He's OK but his friends are a bunch of stiffs.
-
They have the kind of luxuries the average working stiff can't afford.
4
stiff
/ˈstɪf/
verb
stiffs;
stiffed;
stiffing
4
stiff
/ˈstɪf/
verb
stiffs;
stiffed;
stiffing
Britannica Dictionary definition of STIFF
[+ object]
US, informal
:
to not give as much money as you should give to (someone)
-
He stiffed the waiter on the tip. [=he didn't give the waiter a tip or he gave a tip that was too small]
