aloof

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

aloof BrE [əˈluːf] NAmE [əˈluːf] adjective not usually before noun
not friendly or interested in other people
Syn: ↑distant, Syn: ↑remote
•He was a cold man, aloof and distant.
•She stayed aloof while the argument went on around her.
Idioms: ↑keep aloof ▪ ↑stand aloof
Derived Word: ↑aloofness

Word Origin:
[aloof aloofness] mid 16th cent.: from a- (expressing direction) + luff ‘the edge of a type of sail next to the mast or stay’. The term was originally an adverb in nautical use, meaning ‘away and to windward!’, i.e. with the ship's head kept close to the wind away from a lee shore etc. towards which it might drift. From this arose the sense ‘at a distance’.

Example Bank:
•He has remained somewhat aloof from the business of politics.
•Some people find her aloof and unfriendly.
•Some thought that Britain was standing aloof from Europe.
•There were many things that had kept her aloof and apart from the crowd.
•Angela remained aloof.
•Dora stood aloof and silent.
•She had always kept herself aloof from her colleagues.

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  distant, upstage