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stiff

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Stiff is defined as a dead body or a person who is very boring or lacking in humor or wit.

(noun)

An example of a stiff is the boring guy at the party who never has anything to say.
An example of a stiff is a corpse.

To stiff is to fail to give someone the time promised or the money to which they are entitled.

(verb)

An example of stiff is when you don't show up at the mall at 2:00 to meet your friend like you promised.
An example of stiff is when you never pay your friend the $10 you owe her.

The definition of stiff is something that is rigid in shape and unbending.

(adjective)

An example of stiff is a starched white collar.
An example of stiff are the qualifications to become an Olympic athlete.

See stiff in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

hard to bend or stretch; rigid; firm; not flexible or pliant
hard to move or operate; not free or limber
stretched tight; taut; tense
1. sore or limited in movement: said of joints and muscles
2. having such joints or muscles, as from exertion, cold, etc.
not fluid or loose; viscous; thick; dense; firm: to beat egg whites until stiff
strong; specif.,
1. moving swiftly, as a breeze or current
2. containing much alcohol: said of a drink
3. of high potency: a stiff dose of medicine
4. done or delivered with great force; powerful
harsh: stiff punishment
difficult to do or deal with: a stiff climb, stiff competition
excessively formal, constrained, or awkward; not easy, natural, or graceful
resolute, stubborn, or uncompromising, as a person, a fight, etc.
Informal high or excessive: a stiff price
Slang drunk; intoxicated
Naut. not careening or heeling over much despite the amount of sail carried or the strength of the wind

Origin: ME stif < OE, akin to Ger steif < IE *stip-, a pole, stick together (var. of base *steib(h)-, rod) > L stipes, stem, stake, log, stipare, to crowd, cram

adverb

to a stiff condition
Informal completely; thoroughly: scared stiff

noun

☆ a corpse
☆ a drunken person
an excessively formal or constrained person
☆ an awkward or rough person
☆ a hobo
☆ a man: a working stiff
a person who gives a small tip or no gratuity at all

transitive verb stiffed, stiffing

to cheat (someone), as by not paying
to fail to leave a tip for

Related Forms:

stiffish adjective
stiffly adverb
stiffness noun

See stiff in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective stiff·er, stiff·est

Difficult to bend; rigid.
a. Not moving or operating easily or freely; resistant: a stiff hinge.
b. Lacking ease or comfort of movement; not limber: a stiff neck.
Drawn tightly; taut.
a. Rigidly formal.
b. Lacking ease or grace.
Not liquid, loose, or fluid; thick: stiff dough.
Firm, as in purpose; resolute.
Having a strong, swift, steady force or movement: a stiff current; a stiff breeze.
Potent or strong: a stiff drink.
Difficult, laborious, or arduous: a stiff hike; a stiff examination.
Difficult to comprehend or accept; harsh or severe: a stiff penalty.
Excessively high: a stiff price.
Nautical Not heeling over much in spite of great wind or the press of the sail.

adverb

In a stiff manner: frozen stiff.
To a complete extent; totally: bored stiff.

noun
Slang

A corpse.
A person regarded as constrained, priggish, or overly formal.
A drunk.
A person: a lucky stiff; just an ordinary working stiff.
A hobo; a tramp.
A person who tips poorly.

transitive verb stiffed stiffed, stiff·ing, stiffs
Slang

To tip (someone) inadequately or not at all, as for a service rendered: paid the dinner check but stiffed the waiter.
a. To cheat (someone) of something owed: My roommate stiffed me out of last month's rent.
b. To fail to give or supply (something expected or promised).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English stīf

Related Forms: