stop

To stop is defined as to block, close, defeat, prevent from moving or bring to an end.

(verb)

  1. An example of to stop is a dam keeping water from flowing in a river.
  2. An example of to stop is to apply the car's brakes and the car stands still at a red light.

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See stop in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb stopped, stopping

  1. to staunch (a cut, wound, etc.) to block up (a passage, road, pipe, etc.) so as to make impassable; obstruct: often with up to fill in, plug up, or cover (a hole, cavity, opening, mouth, etc.): often with up to close (a bottle, jug, etc.) as with a cork or cap
    1. to close (a finger hole of a wind instrument) so as to produce a desired tone
    2. to produce (a tone) in this way
  2. to prevent the passage or further passage of (water, light, etc.); block; intercept to prevent the movement or further movement of; specif.,
    1. to halt the progress of (a person, animal, vehicle, etc.)
    2. to check (a blow, stroke, or thrust); parry; counter
    3. to defeat (an opponent)
    4. to intercept (a letter, etc.) in transit
    5. to baffle; perplex; nonplus
    to cease; desist from (with a gerund): stop talking
    1. to cause to cease or end: stop that racket
    2. to bring to an end; discontinue: to stop a subscription
    3. to kill
    4. to defeat, as by knocking out
    to cause (an engine, machine, etc.) to cease operation to press down (a violin string, etc.) against the fingerboard to produce a desired tone to place a stop order on (a stock or other security)Bridge to hold key cards that will prevent an opponent from running (a suit)Chiefly Brit. to insert punctuation marks in
  3. to keep (a person) from doing something contemplated to prevent the starting, advent, etc. of; preclude to notify one's bank to withhold payment on (one's check)

Origin: ME stoppen < OE -stoppian (in comp.) < WGmc stoppōn < VL *stuppare, to stop up, stuff < L stuppa < Gr styppē, tow < IE *stewe-, to thicken, contract > Gr styphein, to contract, Sans stuka, tuft

intransitive verb

  1. to cease moving, walking, proceeding, etc.; halt
  2. to leave off doing something; desist from continuing
  3. to cease operating or functioning
  4. to be able to go no further; come to an end
  5. to become clogged or choked
  6. to tarry or stay for a while, esp. as a transient or guest: often with at or in

noun

  1. a stopping or being stopped; check; arrest; cessation; halt; specif., a pause in speech or at the end of a sense unit in verse
  2. a coming to an end; finish; end
  3. a stay or sojourn
  4. a place stopped at, as on a bus route
  5. an indentation in the face of an animal, esp. a dog, between the forehead and the nose or muzzle
  6. something that stops; obstruction; obstacle; specif.,
    1. a plug or stopper
    2. stop order
    3. an order to withhold payment on a check
    4. a mechanical part that stops, limits, or regulates motion, as a pawl
    5. Chiefly Brit. a punctuation mark, esp. a period
    1. pressure, as of a finger, on a string of a violin, etc. to produce a desired tone
    2. a fret on a guitar, etc.
    1. the closing of a finger hole of a wind instrument to produce a desired tone
    2. such a hole
    1. a tuned set of organ pipes, reeds, or electronic devices of the same specific type and tone quality
    2. a pull, lever, or key for putting such a set or sets into or out of operation
  7. Naut. a piece of line used to secure something
  8. Phonet.
    1. the complete stopping of the outgoing breath, as with the lips, tongue, or velum
    2. a consonant formed in this way, as (p), (b), (t), (d), (k), and (g)
  9. Photog.
    1. the aperture, usually adjustable, of a lens
    2. the f-number

adjective

☆ that stops or is meant to stop: a stop signal

See stop in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb stopped stopped, stop·ping, stops
verb, transitive
  1. To close (an opening or hole) by covering, filling in, or plugging up: The tea leaves stopped the drain.
  2. To constrict (an opening or orifice): My nose is stopped up.
  3. To obstruct or block passage on (a road, for example).
  4. To prevent the flow or passage of: stop supplies from getting through.
  5. a. To halt the motion or progress of: stopped me and asked directions.
    b. To block or deflect (a blow, for example); parry or ward off.
    c. To be or get in the way of (a bullet or other missile); be killed or wounded by.
  6. a. To cause to desist or to change a course of action: stopped us from continuing the argument.
    b. To prevent or restrain: stopped him from going.
  7. To discontinue or cease: He stopped his complaining.
  8. a. To defeat (an opponent or opposing team).
    b. To defeat in boxing by a knockout or technical knockout.
  9. To order a bank to withhold payment of: stopped the check.
  10. Music
    a. To press down (a string on a stringed instrument) on the fingerboard to produce a desired pitch.
    b. To close (a hole on a wind instrument) with the finger in sounding a desired pitch.
verb, intransitive
  1. To cease moving, progressing, acting, or operating; come to a halt: The clock stopped in the night.
  2. To put an end to what one is doing; cease: had to stop at an exciting place in the book.
  3. To interrupt one's course or journey for a brief visit or stay. Often used with by, in, or off: stop by at a friend's house; stop in at the office; stop off at the gas station.
noun
  1. The act of stopping or the condition of being stopped; cessation.
  2. A finish; an end.
  3. A stay or visit, as one taken during a trip.
  4. A place at which someone or something stops: a regular stop on my paper route; a bus stop.
  5. A device or means that obstructs, blocks, or plugs up.
  6. An order given to a bank to withhold payment on a check.
  7. A part in a mechanism that stops or regulates movement.
  8. The effective aperture of a lens, controlled by a diaphragm.
  9. A mark of punctuation, especially a period.
  10. Music
    a. The act of stopping a string or hole on an instrument.
    b. A fret on a stringed instrument.
    c. A hole on a wind instrument.
    d. A device such as a key for closing the hole on a wind instrument.
    e. A tuned set of pipes, as in an organ.
    f. A knob, key, or pull that regulates such a set of pipes.
  11. Nautical A line used for securing something temporarily: a sail stop.
  12. a. Linguistics One of a set of speech sounds that is a plosive or a nasal.
    b. A plosive.
  13. The depression between the muzzle and top of the skull of an animal, especially a dog.
  14. Sports A save made by a goalie.
  15. Games A stopper.
  16. Architecture A projecting stone, often carved, at the end of a molding.
adjective
Of, relating to, or being of use at the end of an operation or activity: a stop code.
Phrasal Verbs: stop down To reduce (the aperture) of a lens. stop out To withdraw temporarily from college.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English stoppen

Origin: , from Old English -stoppian

Origin: , probably from Vulgar Latin *stuppāre, to caulk

Origin: , from Latin stuppa, tow, broken flax

Origin: , from Greek stuppē

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Related Forms:

  • stopˈpa·ble adjective

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