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v. stopped, stop·ping, stops v.tr. 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: The rain stopped us from continuing the argument. b. To prevent or restrain: An invitation to dinner stopped him from going to the movies. 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. v.intr. 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. n. 1. The act of stopping or the condition of being stopped: Can't you put a stop to all this ruckus? Production is at a stop. 2. A halt or stay, as on a trip: We made a stop in Austin. 3. A place at which someone or something stops: a regular stop on my delivery route; a bus stop. 4. A device or means that obstructs, blocks, or plugs up. 5. An order given to a bank to withhold payment on a check. 6. A stop order. 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. 17. A control mechanism on an audio or video player that causes a recording to stop playing. adj. Phrasal Verbs: Of, relating to, or being of use at the end of an operation or activity: a stop code. stop down To reduce (the aperture) of a lens. stop out To withdraw temporarily from college. [Middle English stoppen, from Old English -stoppian, probably from Vulgar Latin *stuppāre, to caulk, from Latin stuppa, tow, broken flax, from Greek stuppē.] stoppa·ble adj. Synonyms: stop, cease, desist, discontinue, halt1, quit These verbs mean to bring or come to an end: stop arguing; ceased crying; desist from complaining; discontinued the treatment; halting the convoy; quit laughing. Antonym: start |
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