/ stɪl; NAmE / adverb , adjective , noun , verb
■ adverb
1.
continuing until a particular point in time and not finishing :
I wrote to them last month and I'm still waiting for a reply.
Mum, I'm still hungry!
Do you still live at the same address?
There's still time to change your mind.
It was, and still is, my favourite movie.
2.
despite what has just been said :
We searched everywhere but we still couldn't find it.
The weather was cold and wet. Still, we had a great time.
3.
used for making a comparison stronger :
The next day was warmer still.
If you can manage to get two tickets that's better still.
4.
still more / another even more :
There was still more bad news to come.
•
IDIOMS
see less adverb
■ adjective
1.
not moving; calm and quiet :
still water
Keep still while I brush your hair.
The kids found it hard to stay still .
Can't you sit still ?
We stayed in a village where time has stood still (= life has not changed for many years) .
2.
with no wind :
a still summer's day
the still night air
3.
( BrE ) ( of a drink ) not containing bubbles of gas; not fizzy :
still mineral water
•
IDIOMS
- the still of the night
- a / the still small voice
- still waters run deep
■ noun
1.
a photograph of a scene from a film / movie or video :
a publicity still from his new movie
2.
a piece of equipment that is used for making strong alcoholic drinks :
a whisky still
—see also distil
■ verb
( literary ) to become calm and quiet; to make sth calm and quiet :
[ v ]
The wind stilled.
[ vn ]
She spoke quietly to still the frightened child.
( figurative )
to still sb's doubts / fears
••
WORD ORIGIN
adverb and adjective verb and noun sense 1 Old English stille (adjective and adverb), stillan (verb), of West Germanic origin, from a base meaning be fixed, stand.
noun sense 2 mid 16th cent.: from the rare verb still extract by distillation , shortening of distil .