straddle

Straddle is defined as to sit, stand or move with the legs spread apart, or to refuse to take a side with an issue or argument.

(verb)

  1. An example of straddle is to sit backward on a chair with the legs all the way apart.
  2. An example of straddle is to listen to both sides of an argument and to agree with parts of each argument.

The definition of a straddle is the act or position of sitting, standing or moving with the legs spread apart, or a refusal to make a decision.

(noun)

  1. An example of a straddle is a walk where the legs are stretched away from one another.
  2. An example of a straddle is the refusal by a politician to take a stand on an issue.

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See straddle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb straddled, straddling

  1. to place oneself with a leg on either side of; stand or sit astride of
  2. to spread (the legs) wide apart
  3. ☆ to take or appear to take both sides of (an issue); avoid committing oneself on

Origin: freq. of stride

intransitive verb

  1. to sit, stand, or walk with the legs wide apart
  2. to be spread apart: said of the legs
  3. ☆ to straddle an issue, argument, etc.; refuse to commit oneself; hedge

noun

  1. the act or position of straddling
  2. the distance straddled
  3. ☆ a refusal to commit oneself definitely to either side of an issue, argument, etc.
  4. ☆ in securities and commodities trading, the holding of two options, a put and a call, as on the same stock, each option having the same specified price and expiration date: a straddle allows an investor to profit from, or protect against, swings in the price of the stock
  5. a salvo of artillery rounds, in which some fall on opposite sides of the target, indicating a hit on or near the target

Related Forms:

See straddle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb strad·dled, strad·dling, strad·dles
verb, transitive
  1. a. To stand or sit with a leg on each side of; bestride: straddle a horse.
    b. To be on both sides of; extend over or across: a car straddling the centerline.
  2. To appear to favor both sides of (an issue).
  3. To fire shots behind and in front of (a target) in order to determine the range.
verb, intransitive
  1. To walk, stand, or sit with the legs wide apart, especially to sit astride.
  2. To spread out in a disorderly way; sprawl.
  3. To appear to favor both sides of an issue.
  4. To place a bet in poker before the cards are dealt that is twice the amount of the big blind when one is immediately to the left of the big blind.
noun
  1. The act or posture of sitting astride.
  2. An equivocal or a noncommittal position.
  3. The option to buy or sell a specific asset, such as a block of stock, at a predetermined price before a certain date.
  4. A bet in poker made by the player immediately to the left of the big blind for twice the amount of the big blind before the cards are dealt.

Origin:

Origin: Akin to stride

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Related Forms:

  • stradˈdler noun

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