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stance

US · AUSSTANS/stæns/UKSTAHNS/stɑːns/

Pluralstances

Verbstances, stancing, stanced

8 meanings of stance

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable
    What a person thinks or believes about something.

    Like the side you choose to take in an argument.

    Her stance on homework is that less is better for kids.

    The two neighbors had very different stances on the new fence.

    Similarposition, stand, posture

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable
    The way a person holds their body while standing.

    Like standing with your feet apart so you do not fall over.

    The boxer kept a low stance to stay balanced.

    A wide stance helped her stay steady on the rocking boat.

    Similarposture, position, footing, pose, bearing

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable
    A spot or place where someone or something stands.

    He found a good stance near the door to watch the crowd.

    Each guard had a stance along the long stone wall.

    Similarpost, station, position, spot, place

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncountable
    A small ledge or spot where a climber can stand to hold the rope safely.

    Like a little shelf on a cliff where you can stand to hold a rope for a friend.

    The climber reached a narrow stance and clipped the rope into the anchor.

    They rested at a wide stance about halfway up the cliff.

    Similarledge, foothold

    Note
  5. 5
    noundialectalScotlandcountable
    A place where buses or taxis wait to pick up people.

    Like a parking spot set aside just for buses or taxis.

    We waited at the bus stance for the next service into town.

    The taxis lined up at the stance outside the station.

    Similarstand

    Note
  6. 6
    noundialectalScotlandcountable
    A spot at a fair or market where a trader can sell goods.

    She rented a stance at the Saturday market to sell flowers.

    The best stances near the gate sold out fast.

    Similarstand

    Note
  7. 7
    verbdialectalScotlandtransitive
    To place or put something in a spot, or to put cattle in a pen before selling them.

    The farmer will stance the cows in the pen before market day.

    Please stance the sheep near the gate before the buyers arrive.

    Similarpen, place, position, station

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 8
    nounobsolete
    A group of lines that forms one part of a poem.

    Like one block of lines in a song or poem.

    The poet read the final stance aloud to the quiet crowd.

    Each stance of the ballad told a new part of the story.

    Note

Practice

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Origin

It came through Middle English and Old French from Italian 'stanza' (a room or standing place), which came from Latin 'stō' meaning 'to stand'.