Definition: posture

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

posture
     n 1: position or arrangement of the body and its limbs; "he
          assumed an attitude of surrender" [syn: position, attitude]
     2: characteristic way of bearing one's body: "stood with good
        posture" [syn: carriage, bearing]
     3: a rationalized mental attitude [syn: position, stance]
     4: capability in terms of personnel and materiel that affect
        the capacity to fight a war; "we faced an army of great
        strength"; "politicians have neglected our military
        posture" [syn: military capability, military strength,
         strength, military posture]
     v : as for artistic purposes; "We don't know the woman who posed
         for Leonardo so often" [syn: model, pose, sit]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Posture \Pos"ture\ (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postured; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Posturing.]
   To place in a particular position or attitude; to dispose the
   parts of, with reference to a particular purpose; as, to
   posture one's self; to posture a model. --Howell.
Posture \Pos"ture\, v. i.
   1. To assume a particular posture or attitude; to contort the
      body into artificial attitudes, as an acrobat or
      contortionist; also, to pose.

   2. Fig.: To assume a character; as, to posture as a saint.
Posture \Pos"ture\ (?; 135), n. [F., fr. L. positura, fr.
   ponere, positum, to place. See Position.]
   1. The position of the body; the situation or disposition of
      the several parts of the body with respect to each other,
      or for a particular purpose; especially (Fine Arts), the
      position of a figure with regard to the several principal
      members by which action is expressed; attitude.

            Atalanta, the posture of whose limbs was so lively
            expressed . . . one would have sworn the very
            picture had run.                      --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.

            In most strange postures We have seen him set
            himself.                              --Shak.

            The posture of a poetic figure is a description of
            his heroes in the performance of such or such an
            action.                               --Dryden.

   2. Place; position; situation. [Obs.] --Milton.

            His [man's] noblest posture and station in this
            world.                                --Sir M. Hale.

   3. State or condition, whether of external circumstances, or
      of internal feeling and will; disposition; mood; as, a
      posture of defense; the posture of affairs.

            The several postures of his devout soul.
                                                  --Atterbury.

   Syn: Attitude; position. See Attitude.