n.
Pronunciation: ' stäp
Function: verb
Inflected Form: stopped ; stop · ping
Etymology: Middle English stoppen, from Old English -stoppian, from Vulgar Latin *stuppare to stop with tow, from Latin stuppa tow, from Greek stypp ē
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1 a : to close by filling or obstructing b : to hinder or prevent the passage of c : to get in the way of : be wounded or killed by <easy to stop a bullet along a lonely ⋯ road ― Harvey Fergusson>
2 a : to close up or block off (an opening) : PLUG b : to make impassable : CHOKE , OBSTRUCT c : to cover over or fill in (a hole or crevice)
3 a : to cause to give up or change a course of action b : to keep from carrying out a proposed action : RESTRAIN , PREVENT < stopped them from leaving>
4 a : to cause to cease : CHECK , SUPPRESS b : DISCONTINUE
5 a : to deduct or withhold (a sum due) b : to instruct one's bank to refuse (payment) or refuse payment of (as a check)
6 a : to arrest the progress or motion of : cause to halt < stopped the car> b : PARRY c : to check by means of a weapon : BRING DOWN , KILL d : to beat in a boxing match by a knockout broadly : DEFEAT e : BAFFLE , NONPLUS
7 : to change the pitch of (as a violin string) by pressing with the finger or (as a wind instrument) by closing one or more finger holes or by thrusting the hand or a mute into the bell
8 : to hold an honor card and enough protecting cards to be able to block (a bridge suit) before an opponent can run many tricks
intransitive verb
1 a : to cease activity or operation <his heart stopped > <the rain stopped > b : to come to an end especially suddenly : CLOSE , FINISH
2 a : to cease to move on : HALT b : PAUSE , HESITATE
3 a : to break one's journey : STAY b chiefly British : REMAIN c : to make a brief call : drop in
4 : to become choked : CLOG <the sink often stop s up>
– stop · pa · ble \ ' stä-p ə -b ə l \ adjective
synonyms STOP , CEASE , QUIT , DISCONTINUE , DESIST mean to suspend or cause to suspend activity. STOP applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness < stopped at the red light>. CEASE applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality <by nightfall the fighting had ceased >. QUIT may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing <the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether>. DISCONTINUE applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice <we have discontinued the manufacture of that item>. DESIST implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing < desisted from further efforts to persuade them>.