pose

1 syllable

Quick answer

As a noun, pose means position, posture, arrangement (especially of the human body). As a verb, it means place in an attitude or fixed position, for the sake of effect.

Meanings of pose

22 meanings

noun

Position, posture, arrangement (especially of the human body).
“Please adopt a more graceful pose for my camera.”
Affectation.
Affected manners intended to impress others
“don't put on airs with me”
Similar: airs
A posture assumed by models for photographic or artistic purposes
A deliberate pretense or exaggerated display
Similar: affectation, mannerism, affectedness

Older and rare meanings (1)

archaicCommon cold, head cold; catarrh.

verb

To place in an attitude or fixed position, for the sake of effect.
“To pose a model for a picture.”
To ask; to set (a test, quiz, riddle, etc.).
To constitute (a danger, a threat, a risk, etc.).
in the phrase "to pose as"To falsely impersonate (another person or occupation) primarily for the purpose of accomplishing something or reaching a goal.
To assume or maintain a pose; to strike an attitude.
To behave affectedly in order to attract interest or admiration.
now rareTo puzzle, non-plus, or embarrass with difficult questions.
now rareTo perplex or confuse (someone).
Offer for others to consider
“This poses an interesting question”
Similar: present
Assume a posture as for artistic purposes
“We don't know the woman who posed for Leonardo so often”
Similar: model, sit, posture
Pretend to be someone you are not; sometimes with fraudulent intentions
“She posed as the Czar's daughter”
Similar: impersonate, personate
Put into a certain place or abstract location
“Put your things here”
“Set the tray down”
“Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children”
Similar: put, set, place, position, lay
Be a mystery or bewildering to
“This beats me!”
“Got me — I don't know the answer!”
“a vexing problem”
Similar: perplex, vex, stick, get, puzzle, mystify

Older and rare meanings (3)

obsoleteTo interrogate; to question.
obsoleteTo question with a view to puzzling; to embarrass by questioning or scrutiny; to bring to a stand.
obsoleteTo ask (someone) questions; to interrogate.

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).