/stand"awf', -of'/ , n.
1. a standing off or apart; aloofness.
2. a tie or draw, as in a game.
3. something that counterbalances.
4. a prop for holding the top of a ladder away from the vertical surface against which it is leaning.
5. Elect. an insulator that supports a conductor above a surface.
adj.
6. standing off or apart; aloof; reserved: an uncordial and standoff manner.
Also, stand-off .
[ 1830-40; n., adj. use of v. phrase stand off ]