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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
sit verb (sat, sitting) 1 intrans to rest the body on the buttocks, with the upper body more or less vertical. 2 said of an animal: to position itself on its hindquarters in a similar manner. 3 intrans said of a bird: to perch or lie. 4 intrans said of a bird: to brood. 5 intrans said of an object: to lie, rest or hang There are a few cups sitting on the shelf The jacket sits nicely round your shoulders. 6 intrans to lie unused I've got all my tools sitting in the shed. 7 intrans to hold a meeting or other session The court sits tomorrow. 8 intrans to be a member, taking regular part in meetings sit on a committee. 9 to have a seat, as in parliament. 10 to reside or inhabit. 11 to be a tenant. 12 to have a specific position The TV sits on this stand. 13 to be located or situated The TV sits in the corner. 14 said of the wind: to have a direction The wind sits south. 15 to take (an examination); to be a candidate for (a degree or other award) I'm sitting my first exam tomorrow. 16 to conduct to a seat; to assign a seat to someone They sat me next to him. 17 intrans to be or exist in a specified comparison or relation His smoking sits awkwardly with his being a doctor. 18 intrans to pose as an artist's or photographer's model. be sitting pretty colloq to be in a very advantageous position. sit on the fence see under fence. sit tight 1 to maintain one's position and opinion determinedly. 2 to wait patiently.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon sittan.
sit back 1 to sit comfortably, especially with the head and back rested. 2 to observe rather than take an active part, especially when action is needed He's just happy to sit back and let everyone else make the effort. sit down or sit someone down to take, or make them take, a sitting position. sit down under something to submit meekly to (an insult, etc). sit in on something to be present at it as a visitor or observer, especially without participating. sit in for someone to act as a substitute for them. sit on someone colloq to force them to say or do nothing; to repress them. sit on something 1 to be a member of it I sit on the committee for the sports centre. 2 colloq to delay taking action over it. 3 colloq to keep it secret; to suppress it. sit something out 1 to stay until the end of it. 2 to take no part, especially in a dance or game. sit up 1 to move oneself from a slouching or lying position into an upright sitting position. 2 to remain out of bed longer than usual I sat up late writing my essay. 3 to take notice suddenly or show a sudden interest. |
sit verb (sat, sitting) 1 intrans to rest the body on the buttocks, with the upper body more or less vertical. 2 said of an animal: to position itself on its hindquarters in a similar manner. 3 intrans said of a bird: to perch or lie. 4 intrans said of a bird: to brood. 5 intrans said of an object: to lie, rest or hang There are a few cups sitting on the shelf The jacket sits nicely round your shoulders. 6 intrans to lie unused I've got all my tools sitting in the shed. 7 intrans to hold a meeting or other session The court sits tomorrow. 8 intrans to be a member, taking regular part in meetings sit on a committee. 9 to have a seat, as in parliament. 10 to reside or inhabit. 11 to be a tenant. 12 to have a specific position The TV sits on this stand. 13 to be located or situated The TV sits in the corner. 14 said of the wind: to have a direction The wind sits south. 15 to take (an examination); to be a candidate for (a degree or other award) I'm sitting my first exam tomorrow. 16 to conduct to a seat; to assign a seat to someone They sat me next to him. 17 intrans to be or exist in a specified comparison or relation His smoking sits awkwardly with his being a doctor. 18 intrans to pose as an artist's or photographer's model. be sitting pretty colloq to be in a very advantageous position. sit on the fence see under fence. sit tight 1 to maintain one's position and opinion determinedly. 2 to wait patiently.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon sittan.
sit back 1 to sit comfortably, especially with the head and back rested. 2 to observe rather than take an active part, especially when action is needed He's just happy to sit back and let everyone else make the effort. sit down or sit someone down to take, or make them take, a sitting position. sit down under something to submit meekly to (an insult, etc). sit in on something to be present at it as a visitor or observer, especially without participating. sit in for someone to act as a substitute for them. sit on someone colloq to force them to say or do nothing; to repress them. sit on something 1 to be a member of it I sit on the committee for the sports centre. 2 colloq to delay taking action over it. 3 colloq to keep it secret; to suppress it. sit something out 1 to stay until the end of it. 2 to take no part, especially in a dance or game. sit up 1 to move oneself from a slouching or lying position into an upright sitting position. 2 to remain out of bed longer than usual I sat up late writing my essay. 3 to take notice suddenly or show a sudden interest. |
sit verb (sat, sitting) 1 intrans to rest the body on the buttocks, with the upper body more or less vertical. 2 said of an animal: to position itself on its hindquarters in a similar manner. 3 intrans said of a bird: to perch or lie. 4 intrans said of a bird: to brood. 5 intrans said of an object: to lie, rest or hang There are a few cups sitting on the shelf The jacket sits nicely round your shoulders. 6 intrans to lie unused I've got all my tools sitting in the shed. 7 intrans to hold a meeting or other session The court sits tomorrow. 8 intrans to be a member, taking regular part in meetings sit on a committee. 9 to have a seat, as in parliament. 10 to reside or inhabit. 11 to be a tenant. 12 to have a specific position The TV sits on this stand. 13 to be located or situated The TV sits in the corner. 14 said of the wind: to have a direction The wind sits south. 15 to take (an examination); to be a candidate for (a degree or other award) I'm sitting my first exam tomorrow. 16 to conduct to a seat; to assign a seat to someone They sat me next to him. 17 intrans to be or exist in a specified comparison or relation His smoking sits awkwardly with his being a doctor. 18 intrans to pose as an artist's or photographer's model. be sitting pretty colloq to be in a very advantageous position. sit on the fence see under fence. sit tight 1 to maintain one's position and opinion determinedly. 2 to wait patiently.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon sittan.
sit back 1 to sit comfortably, especially with the head and back rested. 2 to observe rather than take an active part, especially when action is needed He's just happy to sit back and let everyone else make the effort. sit down or sit someone down to take, or make them take, a sitting position. sit down under something to submit meekly to (an insult, etc). sit in on something to be present at it as a visitor or observer, especially without participating. sit in for someone to act as a substitute for them. sit on someone colloq to force them to say or do nothing; to repress them. sit on something 1 to be a member of it I sit on the committee for the sports centre. 2 colloq to delay taking action over it. 3 colloq to keep it secret; to suppress it. sit something out 1 to stay until the end of it. 2 to take no part, especially in a dance or game. sit up 1 to move oneself from a slouching or lying position into an upright sitting position. 2 to remain out of bed longer than usual I sat up late writing my essay. 3 to take notice suddenly or show a sudden interest. |
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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The unrivalled dictionary for word lovers, now in its 13th edition.
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The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
“Simply all you need to know about anyone” – Fay Weldon.
Thoroughly revised and updated for its 9th edition.




Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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