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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | stif |
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stiff1 S3
comparative stiffer, superlative stiffest
comparative stiffer, superlative stiffest1 if someone or a part of their body is stiff, their muscles hurt and it is difficult for them to move
body
2 firm, hard, or difficult to bend : a shirt with a stiff collar
material/substance
a shirt with a stiff collar3 a stiff mixture is thick and almost solid, so that it is not easy to mix : Beat the egg whites until stiff. a stiff dough
mixture
Beat the egg whites until stiff.a stiff dough4 difficult, strict, or severe
difficult
stiff competition/opposition Graduates face stiff competition in getting jobs. The development plans have met with stiff opposition.
Graduates face stiff competition in getting jobs.The development plans have met with stiff opposition.5 difficult to move, turn, or open : Pull hard - that drawer's very stiff.
door/drawer etc
British EnglishPull hard - that drawer's very stiff.6 if someone's behaviour is stiff, they behave in a very formal or unfriendly way : Parsons gave a stiff performance in the main role.
unfriendly
Parsons gave a stiff performance in the main role.7 a stiff price etc is high, especially higher than the price etc of similar things : a stiff tax on cigarettes
price
a stiff tax on cigarettes10 the ability to stay calm and not show your feelings in a difficult or upsetting situation :
stiff upper lip
—stiffly adverb
—stiffness noun [uncountable]
WORD FOCUS: hard WORD FOCUS: hard hard and not bending: solid, firm, stiff, rigid
meat that is too hard: tough
skin that is old and hard: leathery, calloused
hard and easily broken: brittle
➔ See also hard
