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pose

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To pose is defined as to get into a certain position or to pretend to be someone.

(verb)

An example of pose is when you stand in front of your fireplace to be photographed or painted.
An example of pose is when you pretend to be a journalist to get backstage at a concert.

To pose means to raise a question or to puzzle or perplex someone.

(verb)

An example of pose is when you ask a question about the theory of gravity.

To pose is to act as a threat or a potential problem.

(verb)

An example of pose is rain when you want to go on a picnic.

See pose in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb posed, posing

to put forth; assert (a claim, argument, etc.)
to put forward or propose (a question, problem, etc.)
to put (a model, photographic subject, etc.) in a certain position or attitude

Origin: ME posen < OFr poser, to put in position < VL pausare, to place, put < L, to stop (see pause): meaning and form altered by assoc. with L positus, pp. of ponere, to place, put: see position

intransitive verb

to assume a certain position or attitude, as in modeling for an artist
to strike attitudes for effect; attitudinize
to pretend to be what one is not; set oneself up (as): to pose as an officer

noun

a bodily attitude, esp. one held for or pictured by an artist, photographer, etc.
a way of behaving or speaking that is assumed for effect; pretense

Origin: Fr < the v.

transitive verb posed, posing

to puzzle or disconcert, as by an almost unanswerable question; baffle

Origin: aphetic for appose, oppose

See pose in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb posed posed, pos·ing, pos·es

verb, intransitive

To assume or hold a particular position or posture, as in sitting for a portrait.
To affect a particular mental attitude.
To represent oneself falsely; pretend to be other than what one is.

verb, transitive

To place (a model, for example) in a specific position.
To set forth in words; propound: pose a question.
To put forward; present: pose a threat. See Synonyms at propose.

noun

A bodily attitude or position, especially one assumed for an artist or a photographer. See Synonyms at posture.
A studied attitude assumed for effect. See Synonyms at affectation.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English posen, to place

Origin: , from Old French poser

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *pausāre

Origin: , from Late Latin pausāre, to rest

Origin: , from Latin pausa, pause; see pause

Related Forms: