v.
Pronunciation: ' stra-d ə l
Function: verb
Inflected Form: strad · dled ; strad · dling \ ' strad-li ŋ , ' stra-d ə l-i ŋ \
Etymology: irregular from stride
Date: 1565
intransitive verb
1 : to stand, sit, or walk with the legs wide apart especially : to sit astride
2 : to spread out irregularly : SPRAWL
3 : to favor or seem to favor two apparently opposite sides
4 : to execute a commodities market spread
transitive verb
1 : to stand, sit, or be astride of < straddle a horse> <campsites straddling the river>
2 : to be noncommittal in regard to < straddle an issue>
3 : to belong in part to (each of several categories) <a movie straddling genres>
– strad · dler \ ' strad-l ə r, ' stra-d ə l- ə r \ noun
– straddle the fence : to be in a position of neutrality or indecision