stances

Noun

stance (plural stances)

1. The manner, pose, or posture in which one stands.
   • The fencer’s stance showed he was ready to begin.
2. One's opinion or point of view.
   • I don’t agree with your stance on gun control.

   Synonyms:

   position, posture, stand

3. A place to stand; a position, a site, a station.
   • No! sooner may the Saxon lance / Unfix Benledi from his stance, / Than doubt or terror can pierce through / The unyielding heart of Robert Dhu; […]1810, Walter Scott, “Canto IV. The Prophecy.”, in The Lady of the Lake; […], Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for John Ballantyne and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, and William...
   1. (specifically) A foothold or ledge on which to set up a belay.
      • In a harness belay, the stance itself is the belayer's first line of defense, reducing the load the anchor must hold. The anchor in this case serves as little more than a backup (albeit a critical one) to the stance.2004, Mark Houston, Kathy Cosley, “Snow and Ice”, in Alpine Climbing: Techniques to Take You Higher, Seattle, Wash.: The Mountaineers Books, →ISBN, page 225, column 2
4. (Scotland) A place for buses or taxis to await passengers; a bus stop, a taxi rank.
   • The number of Carriages at each of the Stances or divisions of Stances, and the spaces to be occupied, shall be fixed from time to time as may be found necessary. In the event of any New Stance being appointed during the currency of these Regulations, if said Stance shall be within half a mile of...1867, “Stances”, in Bye-laws for the Hackney Carriages of Edinburgh, Edinburgh: Printed by Ballantyne & Company, →OCLC, pages 11–12

   Synonyms:

   stand

5. (Scotland) A place where a fair or market is held; a location where a street trader can carry on business.
   • To the action by the proprietor of a tenement in burgh against the proprietor of the adjoining stance to recover one-half the cost of a mutual gable, of which the defender had taken the use, it was pleaded in defence (1) that the mutual gable having been erected by the common author of the parties...1877 June 15, reported by Middleton Rettie [et al.], “Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Respondents (Pursuers).—R. V. Campbell. Rev. Alexander Wylie and Others (Trustees of Bath Street Baptist Church...

   Synonyms:

   stand

See all 8 meanings of stance