13 VERB If something that can be measured stands at a particular level, it is at that level. □ [V + at ] The inflation rate now stands at 3.6 per cent.
14 VERB You can describe how tall or high someone or something is by saying that they stand a particular height. □ [V amount adj] She stood five feet five inches tall and weighed 120 pounds. □ [V adj] She stood tall and aloof.
15 VERB If something can stand a situation or a test, it is good enough or strong enough to experience it without being damaged, harmed, or shown to be inadequate. □ [V n] These are the first machines that can stand the wear and tear of continuously crushing glass.
16 VERB If you cannot stand something, you cannot bear it or tolerate it. □ [V n/v-ing] I can't stand any more. I'm going to run away. □ [V n/v-ing] How does he stand the pain?
17 VERB If you cannot stand someone or something, you dislike them very strongly. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n/v-ing] He can't stand smoking.
18 VERB If you stand to gain something, you are likely to gain it. If you stand to lose something, you are likely to lose it. □ [V to-inf] The management group would stand to gain millions of dollars if the company were sold.
19 VERB If you stand in an election, you are a candidate in it. [BRIT ] □ [V + in ] He has not yet announced whether he will stand in the election. in AM, use run 20 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A stand is a small shop or stall, outdoors or in a large public building. □ She bought a hot dog from a stand on a street corner.
21 → see also newsstand
22 N‑COUNT A stand at a sports ground is a large structure where people sit or stand to watch what is happening. [BRIT ] ● N‑PLURAL In American English, stands is used with same meaning. □ The people in the stands are cheering with all their might.
23 N‑COUNT A stand is an object or piece of furniture that is designed for supporting or holding a particular kind of thing. □ The teapot came with a stand to catch the drips.
24 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A stand is an area where taxis or buses can wait to pick up passengers. □ Luckily there was a taxi stand nearby.
25 N‑SING In a law court, the stand is the place where a witness stands to answer questions. □ When the father took the stand today, he contradicted his son's testimony.
26 → see also standing
27 PHRASE If you say it stands to reason that something is true or likely to happen, you mean that it is obvious. □ It stands to reason that if you are friendly to people you will get more back.
28 PHRASE If you stand in the way of something or stand in a person's way , you prevent that thing from happening or prevent that person from doing something. □ The British government would not stand in the way of such a proposal.
29 to stand a chance → see chance
30 to stand up and be counted → see count
31 to stand firm → see firm
32 to stand on your own two feet → see foot
33 to stand your ground → see ground
34 to stand someone in good stead → see stead
35 to stand trial → see trial
▸ stand aside PHRASAL VERB If someone stands aside , they resign from an important job or position, often in order to let someone else take their place. [BRIT ] □ [V P ] The President said he was willing to stand aside if that would stop the killing. in AM, use stand down
▸ stand back PHRASAL VERB If you stand back and think about a situation, you think about it as if you were not involved in it. □ [V P ] Stand back and look objectively at the problem.
▸ stand by
1 PHRASAL VERB If you are standing by , you are ready and waiting to provide help or to take action. □ [V P to-inf] British and American warships are standing by to evacuate their citizens if necessary. □ [V P + for ] We will be holding the auditions from nine o'clock tomorrow night so stand by for details. [Also V P ]
2 → see also standby
3 PHRASAL VERB If you stand by and let something bad happen, you do not do anything to stop it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P ] I will not stand by and let democracy be undermined.
4 PHRASAL VERB If you stand by someone, you continue to give them support, especially when they are in trouble. [APPROVAL ] □ [V P n] I wouldn't break the law for a friend, but I would stand by her if she did.
5 PHRASAL VERB If you stand by an earlier decision, promise, or statement, you continue to support it or keep it. □ [V P n] The decision has been made and I have got to stand by it.
▸ stand down PHRASAL VERB If someone stands down , they resign from an important job or position, often in order to let someone else take their place. □ [V P ] Four days later, the despised leader finally stood down, just 17 days after taking office. □ [V P + as ] Profits plunged and he stood down as chairman last January.
▸ stand for
1 PHRASAL VERB If you say that a letter stands for a particular word, you mean that it is an abbreviation for that word. □ [V P n] What does E.U. stand for?
2 PHRASAL VERB The ideas or attitudes that someone or something stands for are the ones that they support or represent. □ [V P n] The party is trying to give the impression that it alone stands for democracy.