standard
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about the new car at our company's stand at the exhibition. →
see also NEWSSTAND 2 (often in comb.) a frame, desk, base, or
other piece of furniture for putting something on: a
hatstand | an umbrella stand 3 also stands pl. an open-
fronted building at a sports ground with rows of seats or
standing spaces rising behind each other → see also GRAND-
STAND 4 a strong effort of defence or opposition: In Febru-
ary 1916 the French Army made a stand at Verdun. | The local
people mounted a determined stand against the closure of the
school. 5 (in cricket) a period of two batsmen (BATSMAN)
being in together, especially one that lasts a long time in
which there are many runs 6 [(on)] a firm publicly-stated
position or opinion: If he wants my vote he'll have to take a
stand on the question of East-West relations. 7 a place where
taxis wait to be hired 8 AmE for WITNESS BOX: Will the next
witness please take the stand? → see also ONE-NIGHT STAND
stan·dard¹ /'stændəd||-ərd/ n 1 [often pl.] a) a level or
degree of quality that is considered proper or acceptable: We
work to a high standard of precision. | This teacher sets high
standards for his pupils. | Your recent work has been below
standard/hasn't been up to standard. (=has been below an
acceptable level) | the airline's rigorous safety standards | The
hotel offers the highest standards of comfort and service. | I
don't think all this bad language on TV should be allowed;
there are certain standards (=of morals) that should be kept
up. b) an accepted measure or level used for purposes of
comparison: In India this is a high salary, though by Euro-
pean standards it is quite low. 2 something fixed as a rule for
measuring weight, value, purity etc: The government has an
official standard for the purity of silver. → see also GOLD
STANDARD 3 a ceremonial flag: the royal standard 4 a pole
with an image or shape at the top formerly carried at the
front of an army: the standard of the Roman legions 5 a)
something that is established, familiar, or widely used: This
business computer has become a standard. b) a popular song
that has become well established and is sung by many
singers
standard² adj 1 of the usual or regularly used kind; not rare
or special: These nails come in three standard sizes. | Search-
ing hand luggage at airports is now standard
practice/procedure. | the standard rate of income tax (=the
rate paid by most people) 2 [A] generally recognized as
correct or acceptable: It's one of the standard books on the
subject. | standard spelling/pronunciation | standard English
(=as used by educated speakers) → see also NONSTANDARD,
SUBSTANDARD
Standard, The → see also EVENING STANDARD, THE
'standard-bearer n 1 (in former times) a soldier who
carried the STANDARD at the front of an army 2 an impor-
tant leader in a moral argument or movement: one of the
standard-bearers of the anti-nuclear movement
'Standard grade n 1 [U] (since 1986) in Scotland, the
lowest level of the SCE 2 [C] an examination of this stand-
ard in a particular subject, taken at around the age of 16 →
compare HIGHER, O LEVEL
stan·dard·i·za·tion /ˌstændədaɪˈzeɪʃn||-dɚdə-/ n
[U] 1 the making of standard parts which can be used in
many different machines, operations etc 2 the setting of
levels of quality for articles, as done by the BSI
stan·dard·ize also -ise BrE /'stændədaɪz||-ər-/ v [T] to cause
to fit a single standard; make to be alike in every case:
Efforts to standardize English spellings have not been com-
pletely successful. | All their cars are produced using standard-
ized parts.
'standard lamp BrE || floor lamp AmE — n a lamp on a tall
base which stands on the floor of a room
,standard of 'living also living standard n the degree of
wealth and comfort in everyday life that a person, group,
country etc has: This nation has a low/enjoys a high stand-
ard of living. → compare COST OF LIVING
,Standard 'Oil trademark a large US oil company established in
the 19th century by John D. ROCKEFELLER. In 1911 it was
divided into about 30 smaller companies because it controlled
the American oil industry and the US Supreme Court judged
that the company was too powerful. Some of the smaller
companies that were formed are still called Standard Oil, and
the name 'Esso' (=S.O.) also comes from Standard Oil.
,standard 'time n [U] the time to which all clocks in a
particular area of the world are set
stand-by /'stændbaɪ/ n pl. -bys 1 a person or thing that is
kept ready to be used: Powdered milk is a good standby in an
emergency. | If the electricity fails, the hospital has a standby
generator. 2 on standby a) ready to be called into action at
any time: A special team of police were kept on standby
during the crisis period. b) able to travel, especially on a
plane, only if there is a seat that no one else wants:
passengers on standby | a standby ticket → see also STAND BY
'stand-in n 1 a person who takes the part of an actor at
certain unimportant or dangerous moments in a film → see
also STUNT MAN 2 a person who takes the place or job of
someone else for a time → see also STAND IN
stand·ing¹ /'stændɪŋ/ adj [A] 1 continuing in use or in force;
PERMANENT: I've got a standing order for two pints of milk a
day. | We have a standing invitation; we can visit them
whenever we like. | His meanness has become something of a
standing joke. | Before the days of standing armies there
were only small local forces in peacetime. → see also STAND-
ING ORDER 2 done from a standing position: The runners set
off from a standing start. | The audience loved her and gave
her a standing ovation at the end of the performance.
standing² n [U] 1 rank or position, especially based on the
opinion of other people; position in a system, organization,
or list: a lawyer of high standing | He's a man of some
standing (=much respected and of high rank) in the
community. | The scandal has damaged the company's stand-
ing in the eyes of the public. 2 time during which something
has remained in existence; DURATION: an agreement of several
years' standing | Her opposition to the plan is of long stand-
ing. (=She has been against the plan for a long time.) → see
also LONG-STANDING
'Standing Committee n a committee of members in the
British Parliament or in the US House of Representatives,
whose purpose is to examine a BILL (=new law that has been
suggested) and to consider whether it needs any changes →
compare SELECT COMMITTEE
,standing 'joke n a joke or humorous subject that is so
well-known to a group of people that they laugh whenever
it is mentioned: My spelling mistakes are a standing joke in
our office.
,standing 'order also banker's order n [C;U] BrE an order
to a bank to pay a fixed amount from an account to a
named person or organization at a regular time each month,
year etc: I pay my insurance premiums by standing order. →
compare DIRECT DEBIT
'standing room n [U] space for standing in a theatre, sports
ground etc, usually sold after all seats have been filled: I'm
afraid there's standing room only.
,standing 'stone n a large stone which is set upright in the
ground, often as part of a pattern such as a circle or a line
stand-off half /'stændɒfˌhɑːf||-ˌhæf/ n a FLY HALF
stand-off-ish /stændˈɒfɪʃ||-ˈɔːfɪʃ/ adj infml rather unfriendly;
coldly formal —ly adv —ness n [U]
stand-pipe /'stændaɪp/ n a pipe connected directly to a
water supply and providing water to a central or public
place
stand-point /'stændpɔɪnt/ n a position from which things
are seen and opinions are formed; POINT OF VIEW: Let's look at
this from an historical standpoint/from the standpoint of the
ordinary voter.
St An·drews /sənt 'ændruːz||seɪnt-/ a city in eastern Scot-
land known especially for its old university and its GOLF
COURSES
stand-still /'stændˌstɪl/ n [S] a condition of no movement
or activity; stop: She brought the car to a standstill. | Work
was at a standstill.
'stand-up adj [A] 1 done or for use by people standing up: a
stand-up meal 2 (of COMEDY or its performer) depending on
telling jokes rather than on acting: a stand-up come-
dian 3 (of a collar) made to stand stiffly up without folding
Stan·ford /'stænfɔːd||-fərd/ a famous American university in
California, south of San Francisco
Stan·i·slav·sky, Con·stan·tin /ˌstænɪˈslævski||-ˈslɑːv-,
ˈkɒnstəntɪn||ˈkɑːn-/ (1863-1938) a Russian actor and theatre