sits

sit  (st)

v. sat (st), sit·ting, sits

v.intr.

1. To rest with the torso vertical and the body supported on the buttocks.

2.

a. To rest with the hindquarters lowered onto a supporting surface. Used of animals.

b. To perch. Used of birds.

3. To cover eggs for hatching; brood.

4. To be situated or located: a house that sits on a hill.

5. To lie or rest: Dishes were sitting on a shelf. See Usage Note at set¹.

6. To pose for an artist or photographer.

7.

a. To occupy a seat as a member of a body of officials: sit in Congress.

b. To be in session.

8. To remain inactive or unused: Her expensive skis sat gathering dust.

9. To affect one with or as if with a burden; weigh: Official duties sat heavily upon the governor.

10. To fit, fall, or drape in a specified manner: The jacket sits perfectly on you.

11. To be agreeable to one; please: The idea didn't sit well with any of us.

12. Chiefly British To take an examination, as for a degree.

13. To blow from a particular direction. Used of the wind.

14. To keep watch or take care of a child.

v.tr.

1. To cause to sit; seat: Sit yourself over there.

2. To keep one's seat on (an animal): She sits her horse well.

3. To sit on (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.

4. To provide seating accommodation for: a theater that sits 1,000 people.

n.

1.

a. The act of sitting.

b. A period of time spent sitting.

2. The way in which an article of clothing, such as a dress or jacket, fits.

Phrasal Verbs:

sit down

To take a seat.

sit in

1. To be present or participate as a visitor at a discussion or music session.

2. To act as a substitute: She sat in for the vacationing news anchor.

3. To take part in a sit-in.

sit on/upon Informal

1. To confer about.

2. To suppress or repress: sat on the evidence.

3. To postpone action or resolution regarding.

4. Slang To rebuke sharply; reprimand.

sit out

1. To stay until the end of.

2. To refrain from taking part in: sit out a dance.

sit up

1. To rise from lying down to a sitting position.

2. To sit with the spine erect.

3. To stay up later than the customary bedtime.

4. To become suddenly alert: The students sat up when he mentioned the test.

Idioms:

sit on (one's) hands

To fail to act.

sit pretty Informal

To be in a very favorable position.

sit tight Informal

To be patient and await the next move.

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[Middle English sitten, from Old English sittan; see sed- in Indo-European roots.]

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sits

• trimmer - One who sits on the fence or remains neutral about political issues.
• insessor - One who sits in or on/upon something.
• nest - From Indo-European nizdos, literally "(place where the bird) sits down."
• soot - Etymologically, something that "sits" on something else—like film settling on a surface.