Stiff: meaning, definitions and examples

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stiff

 

[ stɪf ]

Adjective / Adverb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

physically rigid and not easily bent or moved

Stiff refers to something that is firm, rigid, or not easily bent. It can describe a material, such as a stiff board, or a person's posture, such as standing stiffly. Stiff can also refer to muscles that are tense and not relaxed.

Synonyms

firm, hard, rigid

Examples of usage

  • The old book's pages had become stiff with age.
  • She stood with stiff posture, her back straight and rigid.
  • After the workout, his muscles felt stiff and sore.
Context #2 | Adverb

in a way that is not easily bent or moved

Stiff can also be used as an adverb to describe an action done in a way that is not easily bent or moved. It indicates a lack of flexibility or fluidity in movement.

Synonyms

firmly, rigidly

Examples of usage

  • He walked stiffly after the injury.
  • She held the umbrella stiffly against the wind.
Context #3 | Noun

a dead body

In slang or informal usage, stiff can refer to a dead body. This term is often used in detective novels or crime dramas.

Synonyms

body, corpse

Examples of usage

  • The detective found the stiff in the abandoned warehouse.

Translations

Translations of the word "stiff" in other languages:

🇵🇹 rígido

🇮🇳 कठोर

🇩🇪 steif

🇮🇩 kaku

🇺🇦 жорсткий

🇵🇱 sztywny

🇯🇵 硬い

🇫🇷 rigide

🇪🇸 rígido

🇹🇷 sert

🇰🇷 경직된

🇸🇦 صلب

🇨🇿 tuhý

🇸🇰 tuhý

🇨🇳 僵硬的

🇸🇮 tog

🇮🇸 stífur

🇰🇿 қатты

🇬🇪 მკვრივე

🇦🇿 sərt

🇲🇽 rígido

Word origin

The word 'stiff' has Old English origins and is related to the word 'stīf,' meaning firm or rigid. Over time, the word evolved to its current usage in English. It has been used in various contexts to describe physical rigidity, lack of flexibility, and even in slang to refer to a dead body. 'Stiff' continues to be a commonly used term in everyday language.

See also: stiffen, stiffer, stiffly, stiffness.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,976 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.