strad|dle

strad|dle «STRAD uhl», verb, -dled, -dling, noun.

–v.i.

1. to walk, stand, or sit with the legs wide apart: »

to straddle over a fence watching cars go by.

2. (of the legs) to stand wide apart.

3. Informal, Figurative. to avoid taking sides; attempt to favor both sides: »

All three political candidates straddled on the tariff issue.

4. Commerce. to buy and sell stocks, or other securities, so as to balance a long holding against a short holding.

–v.t.

1. to spread (the legs) wide apart.

2. to have a leg on each side of (a horse, bicycle, chair, ditch, or the like); bestride.

3. to stand lie across; be on both sides of: »

A pair of field glasses straddled his nose.

SYNONYM(S): span.

4. Informal, Figurative. to attempt to favor both sides of (a question).

–n.

1. the act of straddling.

2. the distance straddled.

3. an attempt to favor both sides of a question, especially in politics.

4. a contractual privilege, usually purchased, covering both a put and a call, allowing the holder either to demand certain securities or commodities, of its issuer, or to deliver certain securities or commodities, to its issuer within a given period, and at the same specified price: »

A straddle is the purchase of a commodity for delivery in one month and the simultaneous sale of a commodity (generally the same one) for delivery in another month (New York Times).

5. a high jump with the legs straddling the bar.

╂[a frequentative form of a variant of stride]

–strad´dler, noun.

–strad´dling|ly, adverb.