straddle

present singular third person straddles · participle present straddling · participle past straddled · past straddled

1. transitiveTo sit or stand with a leg on each side of something; to sit astride.

   As they approached the entrance of the port, the giant straddled clear across it, with a foot firmly planted on each headland,

   1853, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Minotaur

   1 more example

   But guess my surprise, when I saw the lazy young rogue lie down on his back, and gently pull down Polly upon him, who giving way to his humour, straddled, and with her hands conducted her blind favourite to the right place

   Fanny Hill

   1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: stride

2. transitiveTo be on both sides of something; to have parts that are in different places, regions, etc.

   The mountain-ringed Yukon Flats basin straddles the Arctic Circle and is bisected by the Yukon River.

   1978, Jimmy Carter, Proclamation 4627

   1 more example

   Those in our movement who are Black and must straddle two movements, fighting the racism of the gay community along with the heterosexism in white institutions and in communities of color.

   1985 February 9, “Black History Month”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 29, page 4

   Synonyms: arch, traverse

3. transitiveTo consider or favor two apparently opposite sides; to be noncommittal.

   Wanting to please both sides, he straddled the issue.

4. transitiveTo form a disorderly sprawl; to spread out irregularly.

   This weed straddles the entire garden.

   1 more example

   Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks

5. governmentTo fire successive artillery shots in front of and behind of a target, especially in order to determine its range (the term "bracket" is often used instead).
6. card gamesTo place a voluntary raise prior to receiving cards (only by the first player after the blinds).
7. intransitiveTo stand with the ends staggered; said of the spokes of a wagon wheel where they join the hub.
8. economicsTo execute a commodities market spread.

plural straddles

1. A posture in which one straddles something.
2. governmentA pair or salvo of successive artillery shots falling both in front of and behind a target.

   The first salvo fell short; the next was long; the third was a straddle.

3. businessAn investment strategy involving simultaneous trade with put and call options on the same security at the same strike price, giving a non-directional position sensitive to volatility.
4. card gamesA voluntary raise made prior to receiving cards by the first player after the blinds.
5. businessA vertical mine-timber supporting a set.
6. A part of a harness placed on the back of a beast of burden (such as a horse or donkey) to carry the weight of a load.

1. not comparableAstride.