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strong, especially in alcohol: I need a stiff whisky. | a stiff dose of medicine 5 not showing any willingness to be kind; severe: The judge gave him a stiff sentence. 6 difficult to do or to deal with: They gave me a very stiff assignment. | There's stiff competition for this job. (=a lot of people are trying to get it) a stiff climb/examination 7 full of determination: The army encountered stiff resistance from rebels in the hills. 8 infml unacceptable, especially unacceptably expensive: a stiff price to pay —ly adv —ness n [U]
stiff² adv extremely: I was frozen/bored/scared stiff.
stiff³ n.- slang 1 a dead body 2 a formal unfriendly person 3 AmE an ordinary working person
stiff·en /'stɪfən/ v 1 [I;T] to make or become firm: The dress is made of a very light material, but it's stiffened with a thicker material underneath. | (fig.) He took a glass of brandy to stiffen his resolve. 2 [I] to become suddenly anxious or less friendly, especially when afraid or offended: He stiffened at her rude remarks.
stiff·en·er /'stɪfənə/ n a thing which stiffens something: a pair of collar stiffeners
stiff-'necked adj frml refusing to change or obey; proudly OBSTINATE
stiff upper 'lip n [S] the ability to accept bad luck or unpleasant events without appearing upset. This is thought to be typical of British people, especially UPPER-CLASS British people: British men are taught to keep a stiff upper lip and show no emotion.
stiff·y /'stɪfi/ n infml taboo an ERECTION
sti·fle /'staɪfəl/ v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) be unable to breathe comfortably, especially because of heat and lack of fresh air: I'm stifling in here; open a window, someone. | It was a stifling (hot) day. | stifled to death by the fumes 2 [T] to prevent from happening or developing: I was so sleepy I could scarcely stifle a yawn. | to stifle opposition/a revolt | stifled growth
stig·ma /'stɪgmə/ n 1 a feeling of shame or dishonour: There should be no stigma attached to being poor. 2 the top of the centre part of a flower which receives the POLLEN which allows it to form new seeds ➜ see picture at FLOWER
stig·ma·ta /'stɪgmətə, stɪg'mɑ:tə/ n [P] (marks similar to) the marks on Christ's body caused by nails, said to have been produced in the same form on the bodies of certain very holy people
stig·ma·tize also -tise BrE /'stɪgmətaɪz/ v [T(as)] to describe (someone or something) in a very disapproving way: a country that has been stigmatized as the least creditworthy of the debtor nations | People with handicaps shouldn't be stigmatized.
stile /staɪl/ n an arrangement of usually two high steps which must be climbed to cross a fence or wall outdoors, especially between fields
sti·let·to /stɪ'letəʊ/ n pl. -tos a knife used as a weapon, with a very narrow pointed blade; small DAGGER
sti,letto 'heel n a high thin heel of a woman's shoe
still¹ /stɪl/ adv 1 (even) up to now and at this moment/up to then and at that moment: Are you still here? You should have gone home hours ago. | When I came back at midnight she still hadn't finished. | Are you on page one still? | Do you still play tennis? 2 even so; in spite of that: I know he's admitted putting the money back, but that still doesn't explain how it came to be missing in the first place. | It's raining; still, we must go out. 3 (used for making comparisons stronger) even: It's cold now, but it'll be still colder tonight. | The first question is difficult, the second one is more difficult, and the third is still more difficult/more difficult still. 4 especially fml or lit besides; yet: He gave still another reason/another reason still.
USAGE Compare still, already, and yet. Still suggests surprise that something has continued later than someone might expect: The coffee's still hot. Already is used to express surprise that something has happened earlier than expected: This coffee's cold already. Yet is used in negatives and questions to talk about things that (although expected) have not happened or may not have happened: I haven't had breakfast yet. | Has Bill arrived yet? It is also used formally instead of still in sentences like these: I have still/yet to hear the truth. (=I have not yet been told the truth) | We may still/ even yet have problems. (=our problems are not over yet) | I walked still/yet (=even) more slowly.
still² adj 1 [F] not moving: Keep still while I fasten your shoe. 2 without wind: It was a hot still airless day. 3 [F] quiet; silent; calm: It was so still you could have heard a pin drop. 4 [A] (of a drink) not containing gas: still orange (juice) 5 still waters run deep a person who is quiet may have very strong feelings, deep knowledge etc —ness n [U]
still³ v [T] especially fml or lit 1 to make quiet, calm, or still: The food stilled the baby's cries. 2 to put an end to (fears, worries etc)
still⁴ n 1 [C]: a photograph of a scene from a (cinema) film 2 [the+of] especially lit quietness; calm: In the still of the evening the animals come down to the pool to drink.
still⁵ n an apparatus for making alcohol: They were arrested for running an illegal still.
still-birth /'stɪlbɜːθ, ˌstɪl'bɜːθ-ɪŋθ/ n a birth in which the baby is born dead ➜ compare ABORTION, MISCARRIAGE
still·born /'stɪlbɔːn, ˌstɪl'bɔːn-ɔːrn/ adj born dead: The child was stillborn. | (fig.) a stillborn idea/scheme (=never started or acted upon)
Stil·ler, Ben /'stɪlər/ (1965–) an American actor, film DIRECTOR, and COMEDIAN. He has also had his own television show.
still 'life n pl. still lifes [C;U] a picture of an arrangement of objects, especially (a) painting of flowers and fruit
stil·ly /'stɪli/ adj poet quiet; calm
stilt /stɪlt/ n [usually pl.] 1 either of a pair of poles, with supporting pieces for the feet, which allow the user to walk raised above the ground: The clown walked along on stilts. 2 any of a set of poles supporting a building above ground or water level: houses on stilts
stilt·ed /'stɪltɪd/ adj derog (of a style of writing or speaking) very formal and unnatural —ly adv
Stil·ton /'stɪltən/ n [U] a kind of English cheese that is white with grey-blue marks and has a strong taste
stim·u·lant /'stɪmjlənt/ n 1 something, especially a drug, which increases one's power to be active for a time: Caffeine is a stimulant. 2 [to] something which encourages further or greater activity; stimulus: The lowering of interest rates will act as a stimulant to economic growth.
stim·u·late /'stɪmjʊleɪt/ v [T] fml 1 [to] to cause to become more active, grow faster etc: Light stimulates plants/plant growth. | I hoped my warning would stimulate her to greater efforts. | The intention of lowering interest rates is to stimulate the economy. 2 [+obj+to-v] to encourage by exciting the mind or interest: An inspiring conductor can stimulate the singers to excel. —lation /ˌstɪmjʊ'leɪʃən/ n [U]
stim·u·lat·ing /'stɪmjʊleɪtɪŋ/ adj 1 that makes one feel active and healthy: I find swimming the most stimulating form of exercise. 2 pleasant because suggesting or encouraging new ideas or ways of thinking: We had a most stimulating conversation.
stim·u·lus /'stɪmjʊləs/ n pl. -li /laɪ/ [to] something that causes activity: Light is a stimulus to growth in plants. | The finding of oil has provided a great stimulus to their economy.
sting¹ /stɪŋ/ v stung /stʌŋ/ 1 [T] to wound or hurt with a STING: She was stung on the arm by a bee. 2 [I] to have or use a STING (1,2): Some insects sting. 3 [T] to cause sharp pain to: The whip stung him. | The smoke is stinging my eyes. | (fig.) He was stung by the criticism. | (fig.) The severity of their condemnation stung her into action. | (fig.) a stinging retort 4 [I] to feel a sharp pain: My eyes are stinging from the smoke. 5 [T(for)] slang to take too much money from: They stung him for $1000. —er n
sting² n 1 a sharp often poisonous organ used as a weapon by some animals, especially insects: Does a bee die when it loses its sting? 2 a pain-producing substance contained in hairs on a plant's surface: Many nettles have a sting. 3 a sharp pain, wound, or mark caused (as if) by a plant or animal: Rub ointment on to the wasp sting. | the sting of salt rubbed into a wound | (fig.) Winning the doubles championship took the sting out of losing the singles to a younger man. 4 an act of deceiving someone to gain advantage, especially carried out by police to trap criminals: Acting on this tip-off, the FBI launched a sting operation. 5 sting in