I. ˈpäschə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from Italian postura, from Latin positura, position, from positus (past participle of ponere to place, put) + -ura -ure — more at position
1. : relative arrangement of the different parts especially of the body : the characteristic position or bearing of the body or that assumed for a special purpose
exercises for good posture
a sitting posture
posture at the table
specifically : the pose of a model or artistic figure
draws her in three postures
2. : relative place or position : situation
the posture of the earth to the sun
forced the English phrases into makeshift postures — W.K.Wimsatt
3. : state or condition at a given time ; especially : situation relative to the attitude of persons or the disposition of things involved
survey the posture of affairs — John Buchan
put the country in a posture of defense
4. : frame of mind : attitude
a posture of moral superiority — R.L.Strout
Synonyms: see state
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to put into or make assume a given posture : pose
a ballet mistress posturing her dancers
figures … postured, as in sculpture — Sheldon Cheney
2. obsolete : to put in place : set
intransitive verb
1. : to assume a particular physical posture or series of postures ; especially : to strike a pose for effect
a young woman postured in leg-revealing shorts — Time
2. : to assume an artificial or pretended attitude : pose , attitudinize
posturing as the friend of the oppressed
you've postured … till everyone's sick of you — Stephen McKenna