sit
Pronunciation: (sit), [key]
— v., sat sate sat sit•ten sit•ting.
—v.i.
- to rest with the body supported by the buttocks or thighs; be seated.
- to be located or situated: The house sits well up on the slope.
- to rest or lie (usually fol. by on or upon): An aura of greatness sits easily upon him.
- to place oneself in position for an artist, photographer, etc.; pose: to sit for a portrait.
- to remain quiet or inactive: They let the matter sit.
- (of a bird) to perch or roost.
- (of a hen) to cover eggs to hatch them; brood.
- to fit, rest, or hang, as a garment: The jacket sits well on your shoulders.
- to occupy a place or have a seat in an official assembly or in an official capacity, as a legislator, judge, or bishop.
- to be convened or in session, as an assembly.
- to act as a baby-sitter.
- (of wind) to blow from the indicated direction: The wind sits in the west tonight.
- to be accepted or considered in the way indicated: Something about his looks just didn't sit right with me.
- to be acceptable to the stomach: Something I ate for breakfast didn't sit too well.
—v.t.
- to cause to sit; seat (often fol. by down): Sit yourself down. He sat me near him.
- to sit astride or keep one's seat on (a horse or other animal): She sits her horse gracefully.
- to provide seating accommodations or seating room for; seat: Our dining-room table only sits six people.
- to serve as baby-sitter for: A neighbor can sit the children while you go out.
- The military forces sat down at the approaches to the city.
- to take a seat.
- to descend to a sitting position; alight.
- to take up a position, as to encamp or besiege:The military forces sat down at the approaches to the city.
- to sit in at a bridge game; to sit in for the band's regular pianist.
- to attend or take part as a visitor or temporary participant:to sit in at a bridge game; to sit in for the band's regular pianist.
- to take part in a sit-in.
- to be a spectator, observer, or visitor at: to sit in on classes.
- A coroner's jury was called to sit on the case.
- to inquire into or deliberate over:A coroner's jury was called to sit on the case.
- Informal.to suppress; silence:They sat on the bad news as long as they could.
- Informal.to check or rebuke; squelch:I'll sit on him if he tries to interrupt me.
-
- to fail to applaud.
- to fail to take appropriate action.
- Though bored, we sat out the play.
- to stay to the end of:Though bored, we sat out the play.
- to surpass in endurance:He sat out his tormentors.
- to keep one's seat during (a dance, competition, etc.); fail to participate in:We sat out all the Latin-American numbers.
- to be in a comfortable situation: He's been sitting pretty ever since he got that new job.
- to bide one's time; take no action: I'm going to sit tight till I hear from you.
- We all sat up when the holiday was announced.
- to rise from a supine to a sitting position.
- to delay the hour of retiring beyond the usual time.
- to sit upright; hold oneself erect.
- Informal.to become interested or astonished:We all sat up when the holiday was announced.
sit
Pronunciation: (sit), [key]
— v.
- (in prescriptions) may it be.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.