■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped )
1》 come or cause to come to an end.
↘discontinue an action, practice, or habit.
2》 prevent from happening or from doing something.
↘instruct a bank to withhold payment on (a cheque).
↘refuse to supply as usual.
↘ Boxing defeat (an opponent) by a knockout.
3》 cease or cause to cease moving or operating.
↘(of a bus or train) call at a designated place to pick up or set down passengers.
↘ Brit. informal stay somewhere for a short time.
4》 block or close up (a hole or leak).
↘plug the upper end of (an organ pipe), giving a note an octave lower.
5》 obtain the required pitch from (the string of a violin or similar instrument) by pressing at the appropriate point with the finger.
■ noun
1》 an act of ~ping.
↘a place designated for a bus or train to ~.
2》 an object or part of a mechanism which prevents movement.
↘ Bridge a high card that prevents the opponents from establishing a particular suit.
↘ Nautical a ~per.
3》 Phonetics a consonant produced with complete closure of the vocal tract.
4》 a set of organ pipes of a particular tone and range of pitch.
↘(also ~ knob ) a knob, lever, etc. in an organ or harpsichord which brings into play a set of pipes or strings of a particular tone and range of pitch.
5》 Photography the effective diameter of a lens.
↘a device for reducing this.
↘a unit of change of relative aperture or exposure.
Phrases
pull out all the ~s make a very great effort to achieve something. [with ref. to the ~s of an organ.]
put a ~ to cause to end.
~ dead (or short ) suddenly cease moving, speaking, or acting.
Phrasal verbs
~ by (or in ) call briefly as a visitor.
~ something down Photography reduce the aperture of a lens with a diaphragm.
~ off (or over ) pay a short visit en route to one's destination.
~ out Brit. informal stay out later than expected.
~ something out cover an area that is not to be printed or etched.
Derivatives
~pable adjective
Origin
OE (for)~pian 'block up (an aperture)', of W. Gmc origin, from late L. stuppare 'to stuff'.