stiff

B2
Pronunciation
/stɪf/
Noun
8 definition(s)
1 Definition

An average person, usually male, of no particular distinction, skill, or education, often a working stiff or lucky stiff.

Example Sentences
  • A Working Stiff's Manifesto: A Memoir of Thirty Jobs I Quit, Nine That Fired Me, and Three I Can't Remember was published in 2003.
2 Definition

A person who is deceived, as a mark or pigeon in a swindle.

Example Sentences
  • She convinced the stiff to go to her hotel room, where her henchman was waiting to rob him.
3 Definition

A cadaver; a dead person.

4 Definition

A flop; a commercial failure.

5 Definition

A person who leaves (especially a restaurant) without paying the bill.

6 Definition

(by extension) A customer who does not leave a tip.

7 Definition

Any hard hand where it is possible to exceed 21 by drawing an additional card.

8 Definition

Negotiable instruments, possibly forged.

Verb
3 definition(s)
1 Definition

To fail to pay that which one owes (implicitly or explicitly) to another, especially by departing hastily.

Example Sentences
  • Realizing he had forgotten his wallet, he stiffed the taxi driver when the cab stopped for a red light.
2 Definition

To cheat someone

3 Definition

To tip ungenerously

Adjective
11 definition(s)
1 Definition

(of an object) Rigid; hard to bend; inflexible.

2 Definition

(of policies and rules and their application and enforcement) Inflexible; rigid.

3 Definition

(of a person) Formal in behavior; unrelaxed.

4 Definition

Harsh, severe.

Example Sentences
  • He was eventually caught, and given a stiff fine.
5 Definition

(of muscles or parts of the body) Painful as a result of excessive or unaccustomed exercise.

Example Sentences
  • My legs are stiff after climbing that hill yesterday.
6 Definition

Potent.

Example Sentences
  • a stiff drink; a stiff dose; a stiff breeze.
7 Definition

Dead, deceased.

8 Definition

(of a penis) Erect.

9 Definition

(of whipping cream or egg whites) Beaten until so aerated that they stand up straight on their own.

Example Sentences
  • beat the egg whites until they are stiff
10 Definition

Of an equation: for which certain numerical solving methods are numerically unstable, unless the step size is taken to be extremely small.

11 Definition

Keeping upright.