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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. adj. Distant physically or emotionally; reserved and remote: stood apart with aloof dignity.
  2. adv. At a distance but within view; apart.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. At a distance, but within view; intentionally remaining apart, literally or figuratively; withdrawn.
  2. At or to a distance from; away or apart from.

Wiktionary

  1. adv. At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance; apart; away.
  2. adv. Without sympathy; unfavorably.
  3. adj. Reserved and remote; either physically or emotionally distant

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. Same as alewife.
  2. adv. At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance; apart; away.
  3. adv. Without sympathy; unfavorably.
  4. prep. Away from; clear from.

WordNet 3.0

  1. adv. in an aloof manner
  2. adj. remote in manner

Etymologies

  1. a-2 + luff, windward part of a ship (obsolete).

Examples

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Lists

These user-created lists contain the word ‘aloof’.

Comments

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  • kmassie From the book The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.pg.116
    "Are you going to be charming? aloof? fierce?" Nov 29, 2010

  • alejinha People that feel superior than the others Sep 19, 2010

  • Prolagus

    She just wants to be accepted in this place
    But there's something in her face
    She will always seem exotic and aloof
    If you want to know the truth
    Her friend the stars dripping from the jewelled sky
    When she was passing by
    Would keep her calm
    There was people that she knew, at least she thought she did
    Be easy on the kid!

    (For the price of a cup of tea, by Belle and Sebastian) Nov 20, 2009

  • mager Sometimes you need to be aloof. Even if it's the last thing you want to do. Sep 2, 2008

‘aloof’ has been looked up 4257 times, loved by 6 people, added to 84 lists, commented on 4 times, and has a Scrabble score of 8.