still

II. still² S3 BrE AmE adjective
[Language: Old English; Origin: stille]
1. not moving:
We stood still and watched as the deer came closer.
Keep still while I tie your shoe.
the still waters of the lake
2. quiet and calm:
The house was completely still.
3. not windy:
a hot still day
4. British English a still drink does not contain gas:
still or sparkling mineral water
5. still waters run deep used to say that someone who is quiet may have very strong feelings or a lot of knowledge
—stillness noun [uncountable]:
Somewhere in the stillness of the night, an owl hooted.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

adjective
1. not moving; calm and quiet
• still water
• Keep still while I brush your hair.
• The kids found it hard to stay still.
• Can't you sit still?

• We stayed in a village where time has stood still (= life has not changed for many years).

2. with no wind
• a still summer's day

• the still night air

3. (BrE) (of a drink) not containing bubbles of gas; not fizzy
• still mineral water
Word Origin:
adv. and adj. v. and n. sense 1 Old English stille stillan West Germanic ‘be fixed, stand’
n. sense 2 mid 16th cent. still ‘extract by distillation’ distil

Thesaurus:
still adj.
• Stay absolutely still.
stationary • • at a standstill • |formal inert • |written motionless • • immobile •
Opp: moving
remain still/stationary/inert/motionless/immobile
stay/lie still/inert/motionless/immobile
sit/stand still/motionless/immobile
Example Bank:
• He stood stock-still, hardly daring to breathe.
• Hold still a minute while I pin your dress up.
• I held the cat still while the vet gave the injection.
• It was a completely still, warm evening.
• Please sit still!
• Suddenly everything went still.
• The air was strangely still and silent.
• A fallen tree floated in the still water.
• Her voice carried on the still air.
• Hold the ladder still while I try to get over the wall.
• I sat stock still, hardly breathing.
• I wish you'd keep still.
• It was a still night and the tall trees stood silently against the stars.
• Keep your head still.
• Stand still when I'm talking to you!
• Stay absolutely still.
• The cat remained perfectly still.

• The surface of the lake was calm and still.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

still / stɪl / adjective

B2 staying in the same position; not moving:

Children find it difficult to sit/stand/stay still for very long.

I can't brush your hair if you don't keep/hold still.

She sat perfectly still while I took her photograph.

The air was so still (= there was so little wind) that not even the leaves were moving.

She dived into the still (= calm and not flowing) water of the lake.

B1 mainly UK A still drink is one that is not fizzy (= with bubbles) :

Would you like still or sparkling water?

stillness / ˈstɪl.nəs / noun [ U ]

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

still

I [stɪ̱l]ADVERB USES

1) ADV: ADV before v, ADV group If a situation that used to exist still exists, it has continued and exists now.
  I still dream of home...
  Brian's toe is still badly swollen and he cannot put on his shoe...
  If you don't like the job, why are you still there?...
  There are still doubts about the final signing of the two treaties.
2) ADV: ADV before v If something that has not yet happened could still happen, it is possible that it will happen. If something that has not yet happened is still to happen, it will happen at a later time.
  Big money could still be made if the crisis keeps oil prices high...
  We could still make it, but we won't get there till three...
  The details have still to be worked out...
  Still to come, the financial news and the weather at a quarter to two.
3) ADV: be ADV n If you say that there is still an amount of something left, you are emphasizing that there is that amount left.
  Bardi coloured the milk with the slightest touch of coffee, of which there was still plenty...
  There are still some outstanding problems...
  There's still time to catch up with them.
4) ADV: ADV before v You use still to emphasize that something remains the case or is true in spite of what you have just said.
  I'm average for my height. But I still feel I'm fatter than I should be...
  Despite the ruling, Boreham was still found guilty.
  Syn:
  nonetheless
5) ADV: ADV with cl You use still to indicate that a problem or difficulty is not really worth worrying about.
  Their luck had simply run out. Still, never fear...
  `Any idea who is going to be here this weekend?' - `No. Still, who cares?'
6) ADV: ADV n/adv (emphasis) You use still in expressions such as still further, still another, and still more to show that you find the number or quantity of things you are referring to surprising or excessive.
  We look forward to strengthening still further our already close co-operation with the police service...
  Why did the bank not conduct its own audit before lending still more?
  Syn:
  even, yet
7) ADV: ADV with compar (emphasis) You use still with comparatives to indicate that something has even more of a quality than something else.
  Formula One motor car racing is supposed to be dangerous. `Indycar' racing is supposed to be more dangerous still.II [stɪ̱l]NOT MOVING OR MAKING A NOISE
♦
stiller, stillest, stills, stilling, stilled
1) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ after v, v-link ADJ, ADJ n If you stay still, you stay in the same position and do not move.
  David had been dancing about like a child, but suddenly he stood still and looked at Brad...
  He played the tape through once, then sat very still for several minutes...
  He recalled her still face and the hurt in her eyes when he had refused her help...
  Gladys was still, then she shook her head slowly.
2) ADJ-GRADED If air or water is still, it is not moving.
  The night air was very still...
  He watched the still water over the side of the boat.
3) ADJ Drinks that are still do not contain any bubbles of carbon dioxide.
  ...a glass of still orange.
  Ant:
  fizzy, carbonated
4) ADJ-GRADED If a place is still, it is quiet and shows no sign of activity.
  In the room it was very still.
  Syn:
  quiet, tranquil
  Derived words:
  stillness N-UNCOUNT Four deafening explosions shattered the stillness of the night air.
5) V-ERG If a sound stills or is stilled, it becomes quiet. [LITERARY]
  Her crying slowly stilled...
  The roar of the crowd stilled to an expectant murmur...
  [be V-ed] The people's voice has been stilled.
6) N-COUNT: oft N n A still is a photograph taken from a cinema film which is used for publicity purposes.III [stɪ̱l]EQUIPMENT
stills
N-COUNT
A still is a piece of equipment used to make strong alcoholic drinks by a process called distilling.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

²still adj
1 a : not moving
• still water
• The cat twitched slightly, and then was still.
- see also stock-still
b : lacking motion or activity
• Everyone had left, and the house was finally still.
• a hot, still day [=a day without wind]
2 photography
a
- used to describe an ordinary photograph that does not show movement as compared to a movie
• still photographs
b : relating to or used for still photographs
• a class in still photography
• a still camera
3 chiefly Brit of a liquid : not having bubbles
• They had still and fizzy drinks.
• still wine
still waters run deep
- used to say that people who are quiet or shy are often very intelligent and interesting;
- still·ness noun [noncount]