7 ADV [adj ADV ] If you are bored stiff , worried stiff , or scared stiff , you are extremely bored, worried, or scared. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ Anna tried to look interested. Actually, she was bored stiff.
stiff|en /st I f ə n/ (stiffens , stiffening , stiffened )
1 VERB If you stiffen , you stop moving and stand or sit with muscles that are suddenly tense, for example because you feel afraid or angry. □ [V ] Ada stiffened at the sound of his voice.
2 VERB If your muscles or joints stiffen , or if something stiffens them, they become difficult to bend or move. □ [V ] The blood supply to the skin is reduced when muscles stiffen. [Also V n] ● PHRASAL VERB Stiffen up means the same as stiffen . □ [V P n] These clothes restrict your freedom of movement and stiffen up the whole body. [Also V n P ]
3 VERB [usu passive] If something such as cloth is stiffened , it is made firm so that it does not bend easily. □ [be V -ed] This special paper was actually thin, soft Sugiwara paper that had been stiffened with a kind of paste.
▸ stiffen up → see stiffen 2
sti ff-ne cked also stiffnecked ADJ If you say that someone is stiff-necked , you mean that they are proud and unwilling to do what other people want. [DISAPPROVAL ]
sti|fle /sta I f ə l/ (stifles , stifling , stifled )
1 VERB If someone stifles something you consider to be a good thing, they prevent it from continuing. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] Critics have accused the U.S. of trying to stifle debate.
2 VERB If you stifle a yawn or laugh, you prevent yourself from yawning or laughing. □ [V n] She makes no attempt to stifle a yawn.
3 VERB If you stifle your natural feelings or behaviour, you prevent yourself from having those feelings or behaving in that way. □ [V n] It is best to stifle curiosity and leave birds' nests alone.
sti|fling /sta I fəl I ŋ/
1 ADJ Stifling heat is so intense that it makes you feel uncomfortable. You can also use stifling to describe a place that is extremely hot. □ The stifling heat of the little room was beginning to make me nauseous.
2 ADJ If a situation is stifling , it makes you feel uncomfortable because you cannot do what you want. □ Life at home with her parents and two sisters was stifling. □ …a stifling bureaucracy.
3 → see also stifle
stig|ma /st I gmə/ (stigmas )
1 N‑VAR If something has a stigma attached to it, people think it is something to be ashamed of. □ There's no stigma attached to being an unmarried mother any more.
2 N‑COUNT The stigma of a flower is the top of the centre part which takes in pollen. [TECHNICAL ]
stig|ma|ta /st I gmɑː tə/ N‑PLURAL Stigmata are marks that appear on a person's body in the same places where Christ was wounded when he was nailed to the cross. Some Christians believe that these marks are a sign of holiness.
stig|ma|tize /st I gməta I z/ (stigmatizes , stigmatizing , stigmatized ) in BRIT, also use stigmatise VERB If someone or something is stigmatized , they are unfairly regarded by many people as being bad or having something to be ashamed of. □ [be V -ed] Children in single-parent families must not be stigmatised. □ [V n] People may feel stigmatized by any psychiatric diagnosis.
stile /sta I l/ (stiles ) N‑COUNT A stile is an entrance to a field or path consisting of a step on either side of a fence or wall to help people climb over it.
sti|let|to /st I le toʊ/ (stilettos ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Stilettos are women's shoes that have high, very narrow heels. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use spike heels
still
➊ ADVERB USES
➋ NOT MOVING OR MAKING A NOISE
➌ EQUIPMENT
➊ still ◆◆◆ /st I l/
1 ADV [ADV before v] If a situation that used to exist still exists, it has continued and exists now. □ I still dream of home. □ Brian's toe is still badly swollen and he cannot put on his shoe. □ If you don't like the job, why are you still there?
2 ADV [ADV before v] If something that has not yet happened could still happen, it is possible that it will happen. If something that has not yet happened is still to happen, it will happen at a later time. □ Big money could still be made if the crisis keeps oil prices high. □ The details have still to be worked out.
3 ADV If you say that there is still an amount of something left, you are emphasizing that there is that amount left. □ There are still some outstanding problems. □ There's still time to catch up with them.
4 ADV [ADV before v] You use still to emphasize that something remains the case or is true in spite of what you have just said. □ I'm average for my height. But I still feel I'm fatter than I should be. □ Despite the ruling, Boreham was still found guilty.
5 ADV You use still to indicate that a problem or difficulty is not really worth worrying about. □ 'Any idea who is going to be here this weekend?'—'No. Still, who cares?'
6 ADV You use still in expressions such as still further , still another , and still more to show that you find the number or quantity of things you are referring to surprising or excessive. [EMPHASIS ] □ We look forward to strengthening still further our already close co-operation.
7 ADV You use still with comparatives to indicate that something has even more of a quality than something else. [EMPHASIS ] □ Formula One motor car racing is supposed to be dangerous. 'Indycar' racing is supposed to be more dangerous still.