1297                                                                                                 sit
**sip²** *n* [(off)] a very small amount of a drink: *She took another sip of her tea.*
**si·phon¹**, **sy-** /'saifən/ *n* **1** a tube that is bent so that a liquid can be drawn upwards and then downwards through it to a lower level **2** a kind of bottle for holding SODA WATER and forcing it out by gas pressure: *a soda-siphon*
**siphon²**, **sy-** *v* [T (OFF, OUT)] to draw off or remove by means of a siphon: *The thieves had siphoned petrol out of my tank.* | (fig.) *We need a new road to siphon off some of the traffic from the town centre.*
**sir** /sɜː; strong sɜːr/ *n* **1** (used respectfully when speaking to an older man or one of higher rank, e.g. a soldier to an officer, to a male customer in a shop, or (BrE) to a male teacher by a schoolchild): 'Report back to *me* in an hour, sergeant.' 'Yes, *sir*' | 'Are you being served, sir?' | (BrE) *Sir, can we go home now please?* → compare MADAM **2** *no sir!* AmE infml certainly not!: *I won't have any of that cheap plastic, no sir!*
**Sir** *n* **1** *Dear Sir* used at the beginning of a formal letter to a man → compare MADAM **2** (in the UK, a title used before the first name of a KNIGHT or BARONET): *Sir James Wilson* | *Sir James* → see also ARISE **3** used by schoolchildren to speak about a male teacher: *Sir, I've forgotten my homework.* | *Look out – Sir's coming back!* → compare MISS
**sire¹** /saiər/ *n* **1** the father of a four-legged animal, especially a horse → compare DAM **2** *old use* (used when speaking to a king): *The people await you, sire.*
**sire²** *v* [T] (especially of a horse) to be the father of: *This horse has sired several race winners.*
**si·ren** /'saiərən/ *n* **1** an apparatus for making a loud long warning sound, as used on ships, police cars, and fire engines and for air-attack warnings: *factory/police sirens* → compare HORN **2** **a)** (in ancient Greek literature) any of a group of woman-like creatures whose sweet singing caused sailors to sail towards them and caused the wreck of their ships **b)** a dangerous beautiful woman; used especially in newspapers: *screen/Hollywood sirens like Marilyn Monroe* | *a sultry blonde sex siren*
**Sir Ga·wain and the Green Knight** /səˌgɑːweɪn ənd ðəˌgriːn 'naɪt|sɜː-/ a long English poem written in the 14th century by an unknown poet. It is about Gawain, a brave KNIGHT in the time of King ARTHUR, and his adventures with a mysterious green knight. → see also ARTHURIAN LEGEND
**Sir·han Sir·han** /sɜːˌhæn sɜː'hɑːn||sɜːˌhæn sɜːr'hæn/ (1944–) a man from Jordan who murdered the US politician Robert F. Kennedy, the brother of President John F. Kennedy, in 1968
**Sir Hum·phrey** /sə 'hʌmfrl|sɜː-/ *n* BrE a name used, especially in newspapers, for a typical British CIVIL SERVANT (=someone who works for a government minister, but who is not a politician) of high rank. The name is based on a character called Sir Humphrey Appleby, in the humorous British television programme *Yes, Minister*, who uses clever and dishonest methods to make sure that his minister always does what Sir Humphrey wants.
**sir·loin** /'sɜːlɔɪn||'sɜːr-/ also **sirloin 'steak** *n* [C;U] (a piece of) BEEF cut from the best part of the lower back. Sirloin is usually expensive and therefore considered by some people as a special meal.
**si·roc·co** /sɪ'rɒkəʊ|-ˈrɑ-/ *n* pl. **-cos** a hot wind blowing from the desert of North Africa across to southern Europe
**sir·rah** /'sɪrə/ *n* *old use* (an angry disrespectful way of addressing a man)
**sis** /sɪs/ *n* infml, especially AmE (used when speaking to one's sister)
**si·sal** /'saɪsəl, -zəl/ *n* [U] (a tropical plant whose leaves produce) a strong white thread-like substance used in making cord, rope, and mats
**Sis·sing·hurst** /'sɪsɪŋhɜːst||-hɜːrst/ a castle in Kent, southern England, known for its beautiful gardens, which were designed by its owner, the writer Vita Sackville-West
**sis·sy¹** also **cissy** BrE /'sɪsi/ *n* infml derog a boy who looks or acts like a girl in some way; one who lacks qualities believed to be typical of men or boys, e.g. one who cries
**sissy²** also **sis·si·fied** /'sɪsɪfaɪd/ also **cissy** BrE– *adj* infml derog typical of a sissy; girlish
**sis·ter** /'sɪstə/ *n* **1** a female relative with the same parents: *Joan and Mary are sisters.* | *Joan is Mary's younger sister.* | *Peter has an older sister.* **2** a female member of the same group (used especially by supporters of the WOMEN'S MOVE-MENT) **3** something, such as a company or organization, that belongs to the same group as something else and is closely connected to it: *The company owns the Daily Express and its sister newspaper the Daily Star.* **4** BrE (often cap.) (a title for) a nurse (usually a female) in charge of a department (WARD) of a hospital: *Sister Brown* | *the night sister* → compare CHARGE NURSE **5** (often cap.) (a title for) a woman member of a religious group, especially a NUN: *Sister Mary* | *a Christian sister* **6** AmE slang (used when speaking to a woman): *All right, sister, drop that gun!*
**sister·hood** /'sɪstəhʊd|-ər-/ *n* **1** [C+sing./pl. v.] a society of women living a religious life **2** [U] a sisterly relationship, especially as claimed among women supporting the WOMEN'S MOVEMENT
**'sis·ter-in-law** *n* pl. **sisters-in-law, sister-in-laws** **1** the sister of one's husband or wife **2** the wife of one's brother **3** the wife of the brother of one's husband or wife
**sister·ly** /'sɪstəlɪ|-ər-/ *adj* of or like a sister; typical of a loving sister: *sisterly affection* —**liness** *n* [U]
**Sis·tine Chap·el**, the /ˌsɪstiːn 'tʃæpəl/ a CHAPEL in the Vatican, Rome, famous for the paintings on its ceiling done by MICHELANGELO, which are regarded as one of the most impressive works of art in Europe
**Si·su·lu, Wal·ter** /sɪ'suːluː, 'wɔːltə/ (1912–2003) a South African CIVIL RIGHTS worker and the first full-time Secretary General of the African National Congress. He was in prison for 25 years for his opposition to APARTHEID.
**Sisyphus** /'sɪsɪfəs/ in ancient Greek stories, an evil king whose punishment after death was to roll a very large stone to the top of a steep hill. Each time he got near to the top of the hill, the stone rolled down to the bottom, and he had to start again, and he had to continue doing this for ever. A very difficult job that seems impossible to finish is sometimes described as a 'Sisyphean task'.
**sit** /sɪt/ *v* **sat, present participle sitting** **1** [I+adv/prep] to rest on a chair or other seat or on the ground, in a position with the upper body upright and bent at the hips: *He sat at his desk working.* | *They were all sitting round the fire.* | *She usually sits at the back of the class.* | *Don't just sit there watching – come and help me!* → see USAGE **2** [I+adv/prep;T+obj.+adv/prep] to (cause to) go into this position; (cause to) take a seat: *Sit down, please.* | *Come and sit over here.* | *She sat the baby (down) on the grass.* | *He came over and sat beside me/sat in the chair next to mine.* → see also SIT DOWN **3** [I] (of an animal or bird) to be in or go into a position with the tail end of the body resting on a surface: *He's trained his dog to sit at the word of command.* | *a bird sitting on the wall* **4** [I+adv/prep especially on, with] **a)** to lie; rest; be in a place or position and not move: *The books sat unread on the shelf for years.* | *a village sitting on the side of a hill* | *There were some family photos sitting on the mantelpiece.* | *The coat doesn't sit well on you.* (=fits badly) **b)** to be accepted pleasantly: *I don't think his dinner/our suggestions sat very well with him.* **5** [I+adv/prep especially on] to have a position in an official body: *She sits on several committees.* | *He used to represent the Democrats but he now sits (on the council) as an Independent.* → see also SITTING **6** [I] (of an official body) to have one or more meetings: *The court sat until all the arguments for both sides had been heard.* → see also SITTING **7** [(for)] to (take up a position to) be painted or photographed: *I'm sitting for my portrait next week.* **8** [T] especially BrE to take (a written examination): *I'm sitting my A-levels in the summer.* → see also SIT FOR **9** [I] (of a hen) to cover eggs to bring young birds to life **10** [I(for)] to BABY-SIT **11** **are you sitting comfortably?** Then I'll begin a phrase said at the beginning of *Listen with Mother*, a former children's radio programme, and now often used humorously: *Right, here's what we've got to do this week. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.* **12** be sitting pretty infml to be in a very favourable position: *With profits up 125% the company is sitting pretty.* **13** **sit at the feet of** lit or pomp to receive instruction from; be the pupil of (especially a famous teacher) **14** **sit in judgment (on)** to give a judgment, opinion, or decision (about), sometimes when one has no right to do so **15** **sit on someone's tail** to drive close behind some-one for some distance, sometimes because the driver is