pose

Pluralposes

Formsposes, posing, posed

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A way of holding the body, especially a position held deliberately for a photograph, drawing, or display.

   The model settled into a relaxed pose for the camera.

   He struck a dramatic pose at the top of the stairs.

   Similarposture, stance, position, attitude

   Note

   A word at home in the studio and the gallery. The American novelist Winston Churchill's The Celebrity (1897) compares a young lady's "stately pose" to the one Richter gave his Queen Louise on the stairway. The noun usually comes with a verb: people adopt, strike or hold a pose. Here it is the body's position. The insincere manner of the affectation sense is a figurative extension of it.

2. 2
   verbintransitive

   To hold a particular position or attitude, especially for a photograph or portrait.

   The athletes posed for photographers after winning the medal.

   Visitors often pose beside the famous statue in the square.

   Similarsit, model

   Note

   The intransitive partner of arranging someone else: here the subject holds the position. No camera is needed. When Thackeray writes in 1840 that a man "posed before her as a hero," he means a man striking an attitude, not sitting for a portrait. The same pose as also introduces the impersonation sense. The difference is whether the role is a display for an audience or a false identity used to get something.

3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To arrange someone in a particular position or attitude in order to create an effect.

   The director posed the actors carefully before each shot.

   He likes to pose his subjects in soft, natural light.

   Similararrange, position, place

   Note

   Behind it is Old French poser, "to put, place," which goes back to the Latin word for a pause. That makes pose a doublet of pause. Here the verb is transitive: a photographer or painter poses someone else, as in posing a model for a picture. When the subjects hold the position themselves, the verb becomes intransitive, which is the sitter's own posing.

4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To be the cause or source of (a danger, threat, or risk).

   Rising sea levels pose a threat to coastal cities.

   The chemical spill posed a major hazard to nearby residents.

   Similarpresent, constitute, represent, create, cause

5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To put forward (a question or problem) for consideration or solution.

   The interviewer posed several difficult questions about the new policy.

   Scientists pose hypotheses that experiments can later test.

   Similarraise, ask, put, present, propose

   Note

   The object here is the question, not the person: you pose a question, a problem or a riddle, and the person it is aimed at comes after to. Keep that order in mind. Older, now obsolete uses made the person the direct object, as in posing someone, meaning questioning them, and that verb had a different origin altogether.

6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To pretend to be another person, or to hold a profession one does not, usually in order to achieve some aim.

   The con artist posed as a bank inspector to gain their trust.

   Investigators sometimes pose as buyers to expose illegal sales.

   Similarmasquerade, impersonate

7. 7
   verbintransitive

   To behave in an affected or showy manner in order to attract attention or admiration.

   She was posing for the crowd rather than actually competing.

   Some people pose constantly, hoping that others will admire them.

   Similarposture, grandstand, preen, strut, swagger

8. 8
   nouncountable

   An affected or insincere manner adopted to impress others.

   Their rebellious image turned out to be a pose for the cameras.

   Beneath the tough pose was a shy, uncertain young man.

   Similaract, front, facade, pretense, affectation

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