What does "pose" mean?

1. (to present a problem) to create or present a problem, danger, or question that people must deal with. 2. (to sit for a photo) to hold a particular position so that someone can take your photo or paint you. 3. (to pretend to be someone) to pretend to be someone else in order to trick people. 4. (a physical position) a particular way of standing or sitting, usually for a picture.

How do you use "pose"?

Commonly used in formal or academic writing with objects like 'threat', 'risk', 'challenge', or 'question'.

pose

v. · n.

US //ˈpoʊz// UK //pˈəʊz// pose

1 to present a problem (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

to create or present a problem, danger, or question that people must deal with.

to constitute or present a challenge, threat, or inquiry. Transitive; typically takes abstract nouns like 'threat', 'risk', or 'challenge' as objects.

Example

The rising water levels pose a serious threat to the small coastal village.

Example

The sudden collapse of the regional bank poses a significant risk to the stability of the national economy.

Usage

Commonly used in formal or academic writing with objects like 'threat', 'risk', 'challenge', or 'question'.
2 to sit for a photo (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to hold a particular position so that someone can take your photo or paint you.

to assume and maintain a specific physical posture for artistic or photographic purposes.

Example

The family gathered in the garden to pose for their holiday photograph.

Example

The athlete was asked to pose for the magazine cover in a way that highlighted his physical strength.
- sit
- model

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3 to pretend to be someone (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to pretend to be someone else in order to trick people.

to falsely represent oneself as another person or professional to achieve a specific goal. Intransitive; usually followed by the preposition 'as'.

Example

The thief managed to enter the building by posing as a repairman.

Example

The undercover investigator spent months posing as a high-level executive to gather evidence of the fraud.
- impersonate
- masquerade
4 a physical position (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a particular way of standing or sitting, usually for a picture.

a particular posture of the body, especially one assumed for artistic effect or social display.

Example

The yoga instructor showed us a difficult pose that helps with balance.

Example

The statue depicts the emperor in a majestic pose, with one arm raised as if addressing a vast crowd.

Etymology 1

From Middle English pose, from Old English ġeposu pl (“cold in the head; catarrh”, literally “(the) sneezes; (the) snorts”), from Old English pos, ġepos (“sneeze, snort”), from Proto-West Germanic pos, from Proto-Germanic pusą (“sneeze, snort”), from Proto-Germanic pusōną, pusjaną (“to snort, blow”), from pus- (“to blow, breathe hard”), from Proto-Indo-European bew- (“to blow, swell”). Compare Low German pusten (“to blow, puff”), German dialectal pfausen (“to sneeze, snort”), Norwegian dialectal pysa (“to blow”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English posen, from Old French poser (“to put, place, stell, settle, lodge”), from Vulgar Latin pausāre (“to blin, cease, pause”), from Latin pausa (“pause”), from Ancient Greek παῦσις (paûsis); influenced by Latin pōnere. Doublet of pause.

Etymology 3

From Middle English posen, a combination of aphetic forms of Middle English aposen and opposen. More at appose, oppose.

Word family

Verbpose
Nounposey