transitive verb stopped, stopping stop′·ping

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)

Etymology: 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
7. 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.
8. 1. the closing of a finger hole of a wind instrument to produce a desired tone
   2. such a hole
9. 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
10. Naut. a piece of line used to secure something
11. 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)
12. Photog.
    1. the aperture, usually adjustable, of a lens
    2. the f-number

adjective