US /ˌstɑːkˈstɪl/ UK /ˌstɒkˈstɪl/
adj adv Freq #142520

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    completely motionless

    The crowd stood stock-still while the sheriff crossed the square.

  2. 2
    adv

    without moving at all

    Pap complained that the government had sat stock-still for six months.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · completely motionless motionlessfrozenrooted to the spot
2 adv · without moving at all motionlesslyperfectly still
Opposites
Word family
Related forms stillstock

Etymology

An inversion of the older comparison still as a stock, where stock meant a tree trunk or block of wood. The image is of someone as immovable as a solid post.

Topics

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