n.
Pronunciation: ' stif
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English stif, from Old English st ī f; akin to Middle Dutch stijf stiff, Latin stipare to press together, Greek steibein to tread on
Date: before 12th century
1 a : not easily bent : RIGID <a stiff collar> b : lacking in suppleness or flexibility < stiff muscles> c : impeded in movement ― used of a mechanism <a truck's stiff suspension> d : DRUNK 1A
2 a : FIRM , RESOLUTE b : STUBBORN , UNYIELDING c : PROUD d (1) : marked by reserve or decorum (2) : lacking in ease or grace : STILTED
3 : hard fought : PUGNACIOUS , SHARP <drove a stiff bargain> < stiff competition>
4 a (1) : exerting great force <a stiff wind> (2) : FORCEFUL , VIGOROUS b : POTENT <a stiff dose> <poured her a stiff drink>
5 : of a dense or glutinous consistency : THICK
6 a : HARSH , SEVERE <a stiff penalty> b : ARDUOUS , RUGGED < stiff terrain>
7 : not easily heeled over by an external force (as the wind) <a stiff ship>
8 : EXPENSIVE , STEEP <paid a stiff price>
– stiff · ish \ ' sti-fish \ adjective
– stiff · ly adverb
– stiff · ness noun
synonyms STIFF , RIGID , INFLEXIBLE mean difficult to bend. STIFF may apply to any degree of this condition <stretching keeps your muscles from becoming stiff >. RIGID applies to something so stiff that it cannot be bent without breaking <a rigid surfboard>. INFLEXIBLE stresses lack of suppleness or pliability <ski boots with inflexible soles>.