stiff

adjective

• 1not easily bent or changed in shape; rigid:a stiff black collar stiff cardboard
• (of a semiliquid substance) viscous; thick:add wheat until the mixture is quite stiff
• not moving as freely as is usual or desirable; difficult to turn or operate:a stiff drawer the faucet in the shower is a little stiff
• (of a person or part of the body) unable to move easily and without pain:he was stiff from sitting on the desk a stiff back
• (of a person or their manner) not relaxed or friendly; constrained:she greeted him with stiff politeness

• 2severe or strong:they face stiff fines and a possible jail sentence a stiff increase in taxes
• (of a wind) blowing strongly:a stiff breeze stirring the lake
• requiring strength or effort; difficult:a long stiff climb up the bare hillside
• (of an alcoholic drink) strong:a stiff measure of brandy

• 3 [predic.] (stiff with) informal full of:the place is stiff with alarm systems

• 4 (—— stiff) informal having a specified unpleasant feeling to an extreme extent:she was scared stiff I was bored stiff with my project

• 5 Bridge a card that is the only one of its suit in a hand:two red aces and a stiff club

noun

• 1a dead body.

• 2chiefly North American a boring, conventional person:ordinary working stiffs in respectable offices
• a fellow; an ordinary person:the lucky stiff!

verb

• 1North American cheat (someone) out of something, especially money:several workers were stiffed out of their pay
• fail to leave (someone) a tip.

• 2North American ignore deliberately; snub.
• fail to appear for a promised engagement or appointment:he stiffed us and didn’t show up

• 3kill:I want to get those pigs who stiffed your doctor
• [no object] be unsuccessful:as soon as he began singing about the wife and kids, his albums stiffed