/stans/ , n.
1. the position or bearing of the body while standing: legs spread in a wide stance; the threatening stance of the bull.
2. a mental or emotional position adopted with respect to something: They assumed an increasingly hostile stance in their foreign policy.
3. Sports. the relative position of the feet, as in addressing a golf ball or in making a stroke.
[ 1525-35; estance (standing) position stantia, deriv. of L stant- (s. of stans ), prp. of stare to STAND ]