stall

To stall is to delay or put off doing something, when an engine stops running or when a project or progress is stopped.

(verb)

An example of stall is when you spend 1/2 hour sharpening pencils because you want to put off starting your homework.
An example of stall is when your car won't start because your engine won't kick on.
An example of stall is when efforts to open a new store stop.

The definition of a stall is a small area from which goods are sold at a market, or is an area in a barn where animals are kept.

(noun)

See stall in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

1. Obsolete a stable
2. a compartment for one animal in a stable
any of various compartments, booths, separate sections, etc.; specif.,
1. a booth, table, or counter, as at a market or fair, at which goods are sold
2. a pew or enclosed seat in the main part of a church or in the choir
3. a small, enclosed space, as a compartment in which one showers
4. ☆ any of the spaces marked off, as in a garage, for parking individual automobiles
Brit.
1. an orchestra seat in a theater, esp. one in the front part
2. orchestra (sense ); also, the people sitting in these seats
a protective sheath, as of rubber, for a finger or thumb; cot
the condition of being brought to a stop or standstill, as through some malfunction
Aeron. a condition in which an improper angle of attack and a lack of airspeed combine to disrupt the airflow around an airfoil enough to result in a loss of lift which forces the aircraft to drop, possibly going out of control

Origin: ME stal < OE steall, place, station, stall, stable, akin to OHG stal < IE base *stel-, to place, set up, stiff, stem > still

transitive verb, intransitive verb

Origin: ME stallen < the n. & < OFr estaler < Gmc, as in OHG stal

intransitive verb

to act or speak evasively or hesitantly so as to deceive or delay: to stall for time

Origin: < stall, decoy, var. of obs. stale, one who lures < Anglo-Fr estale < OFr estaler: see stall,

transitive verb

to put off or delay by stalling: usually with off: to stall off creditors

noun

any action, device, etc. used to deceive or delay; evasive trick

See stall in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A compartment for one domestic animal in a barn or shed.
a. A booth, cubicle, or stand used by a vendor, as at a market.
b. A small compartment: a shower stall.
a. An enclosed seat in the chancel of a church.
b. A pew in a church.
Chiefly British A seat in the front part of a theater.
A space marked off, as in a garage, for parking a motor vehicle.
A protective sheath for a finger or toe.
The sudden, unintended loss of power or effectiveness in an engine.
A condition in which an aircraft or airfoil experiences an interruption of airflow resulting in loss of lift and a tendency to drop.

verb stalled, stall·ing, stalls

verb, transitive

verb, intransitive

To live or be lodged in a stall. Used of an animal.
To stick fast in mud or snow.
To come to a standstill: Negotiations stalled.
To stop running as a result of mechanical failure: The car stalled on the freeway.
To lose forward flying speed, causing a stall. Used of an aircraft.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English stalle

Origin: , from Old English steall, standing place, stable; see stel- in Indo-European roots

noun

A ruse or tactic used to mislead or delay.

verb stalled, stall·ing, stalls

verb, transitive

To employ delaying tactics against: stall off creditors.

verb, intransitive

To employ delaying tactics: stalling for time.

Origin:

Origin: Alteration (influenced by stall¹)