the position where a thing or person stands
"The goalkeeper moved to his spot on the goal line to block the penalty kick."
a growth of similar plants (usually trees) in a particular area
"they cut down a stand of trees"
an interruption of normal activity
"The sudden thunderclap caused a collective stand across the audience, silencing all chatter for a moment before they resumed their conversation."
a mental position from which things are viewed
"we should consider this problem from the viewpoint of the Russians"
"teaching history gave him a special point of view toward current events"
a booth where articles are displayed for sale
"We bought some postcards from the vendor's stand at the farmers market."
a stop made by a touring musical or theatrical group to give a performance
"a one-night stand"
tiered seats consisting of a structure (often made of wood) where people can sit to watch an event (game or parade)
"The family cheered from their spot in the wooden stands as the band marched past during the town parade."
a platform where a (brass) band can play in the open air
"The town council decided to move the brass band from the park grass to the wooden stand for better sound projection."
The act of standing.
"He couldn't find a chair, so he simply stood by the window to watch the rain."
In plain English: A stand is a piece of furniture used to hold things up, like a coat rack or a display shelf.
"The line to buy tickets was very long, so I had to stand for over an hour."
hold one's ground; maintain a position; be steadfast or upright
"I am standing my ground and won't give in!"
put up with something or somebody unpleasant
"I cannot bear his constant criticism"
"The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks"
"he learned to tolerate the heat"
"She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage"
be available for stud services
"male domestic animals such as stallions serve selected females"
To position or be positioned physically.
"She stood on the balcony to get a better view of the sunset."
To support oneself on the feet in an erect position.
"After sitting for hours during the meeting, I felt stiff and had to stand up to stretch my legs."
In plain English: To stand means to keep your feet on the ground and hold yourself up without sitting or lying down.
"He decided to stand up and leave the meeting early."
Usage: Use stand to describe supporting your body weight on your feet, while distinguishing it from synonyms like sit which involve resting on a surface. Avoid confusing this physical action with metaphorical uses such as "to endure" or "to represent."
The word "stand" comes from Old English standan, meaning "to occupy a place." It traveled into Middle and Modern English with this original sense of remaining in one position.