To part the legs wide; to stand or to walk with the legs far apart. [1913 Webster]
To stand with the ends staggered; -- said of the spokes of a wagon wheel where they join the hub. [1913 Webster]

Straddle, v. t.

To place one leg on one side and the other on the other side of; to stand or sit astride of; as, to straddle a fence or a horse. [1913 Webster]

Straddle, n.

The act of standing, sitting, or walking, with the feet far apart. [1913 Webster]
The position, or the distance between the feet, of one who straddles; as, a wide straddle. [1913 Webster]
A stock option giving the holder the double privilege of a “put” and a “call,” i. e., securing to the buyer of the option the right either to demand of the seller at a certain price, within a certain time, certain securities, or to require him to take at the same price, and within the same time, the same securities. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Straddle, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. a sit or stand across (a thing) with the legs wide apart. b be situated across or on both sides of (the town straddles the border).
2 intr. a sit or stand in this way. b (of the legs) be wide apart.
3 tr. part (one's legs) widely.
4 tr. drop shots or bombs short of and beyond (a target).
5 tr. vacillate between two policies etc. regarding (an issue).
--n.
1 the act or an instance of straddling.
2 Stock Exch. an option giving the holder the right of either calling for or delivering stock at a fixed price.

Derivative

straddler n.

Etymology

alt. of striddle, back-form. f. striddlings astride f. strid- = STRIDE

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THESAURUS

Straddle

abstain, abut on, across, amble, astraddle, astride, barge, be based on, bear on, bestraddle, bestride, bowl along, bundle, bypass, call, carry, clump, cop out, cover, cross, drag, duck the issue, encompass, environ, evade, evade the issue, extend, flounce, foot, footslog, ford, get ahead of, go, go across, go by, go out, halt, hippety-hop, hitch, hobble, hold, hop, horseback, jog, jolt, jump, lean on, lie, lie on, limp, lumber, lunge, lurch, mince, on, on horseback, option, overstride, pace, paddle, pass, pass by, pass over, peg, perch, piaffe, piaffer, plod, prance, put, put and call, rack, ramble, range, reach, reach out, rely on, repose on, rest on, ride, right, roll, run, sashay, saunter, scramble, scuff, scuffle, shoot ahead of, shuffle, sidle, single-foot, sit it out, sit on, skip, slink, slither, slog, slouch, span, sprangle, spread, spread-eagle, stagger, stalk, stamp, stand neuter, stand on, step over, stock option, stomp, straddle-legged, straddleback, straggle, strap, stretch, stretch out, stride, strip, stroll, strut, stump, surround, swagger, sweep, swing, take in, thrust out, tittup, toddle, totter, traipse, trim, trip, trudge, waddle, wamble, wiggle, wobble

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ROGET THESAURUS

Straddle

Tergiversation

VB change one's mind, change one's intention, change one's purpose, change one's note, abjure, renounce, withdraw from, waver, vacillate, wheel round, turn round, veer round, turn a pirouette, go over from one side to another, pass from one side to another, change from one side to another, skip from one side to another, go to the rightabout, box the compass, shift one's ground, go upon another tack, apostatize, change sides, go over, rat, recant, retract, revoke, rescind, recall, forswear, unsay, come over, come round to an opinion, crawfish, crawl, draw in one's horns, eat one's words, eat the leek, swallow the leek, swerve, flinch, back out of, retrace one's steps, think better of it, come back return to one's first love, turn over a new leaf, trim, shuffle, play fast and loose, blow hot and cold, coquet, be on the fence, straddle, bold with the hare but run with the hounds, nager entre deux eaux, wait to see how the cat jumps, wait to see how the wind blows.

Stock Market

VB speculate, invest, trade, trade stocks, play the market, buy long, sell short, take a position, straddle, take a plunge, plunge in, take a flier.

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.

Journey

VB travel, journey, course, take a journey, go a journey, take a walk, go out for walk, have a run, take the air, flit, take wing, migrate, emigrate, trek, rove, prowl, roam, range, patrol, pace up and down, traverse, scour the country, traverse the country, peragrate, circumambulate, perambulate, nomadize, wander, ramble, stroll, saunter, hover, go one's rounds, straggle, gad, gad about, expatiate, walk, march, step, tread, pace, plod, wend, go by shank's mare, promenade, trudge, tramp, stalk, stride, straddle, strut, foot it, hoof it, stump, bundle, bowl along, toddle, paddle, tread a path, take horse, ride, drive, trot, amble, canter, prance, fisk, frisk, caracoler, caracole, gallop, embark, board, set out, hit the road, get going, get underway, peg on, jog on, wag on, shuffle on, stir one's stumps, bend one's steps, bend one's course, make one's way, find one's way, wend one's way, pick one's way, pick one's way, thread one's way, plow one's way, slide, glide, coast, skim, skate, march in procession, file on, defile, go to, repair to, resort to, hie to, betake oneself to.

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