English Explanatory Dictionary

aloof

English dictionary entry

Meanings

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

Pronunciation

/əˈluːf/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-aloof.wav

Word forms

aloof more aloof most aloof

Etymology

From Middle English loof (“weather gage, windward direction”), probably from Middle Dutch (Compare Dutch loef (“the weather side of a ship”)), originally a nautical order to keep the ship's head to the wind, thus to stay clear of a lee-shore or some other quarter, hence the figurative sense of "at a distance, apart".

Synonyms

remote reserved aloof cool distant frosty hankty hard-to-get offish quiet standoffish strange thorny touch-me-not-ish unapproachable unbending undemonstrative unimpressionable uninvolved

Antonyms

friendly hostile nonaloof

Related words

taciturn unfriendly

Derived words

aloofly aloofness
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