stop

¹stop

verb \ˈstäp\

stoppedstop·ping

Definition of STOP

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 stops up>

— stop·pa·ble \ˈstä-pə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of STOP

1. She was walking toward me, and then she suddenly stopped.
2. The bus stopped at the corner.
3. He stopped to watch the sun set.
4. He stopped to pick up a penny.
5. The car was going so fast that it couldn't stop in time.
6. The traffic light turned red, so she had to stop.
7. Stop that man! He stole my wallet.
8. They stopped us at the border to check our passports.
9. She stopped the car and turned back.
10. He was stopped by the police for speeding.

Origin of STOP

Middle English stoppen, from Old English -stoppian, from Vulgar Latin *stuppare to stop with tow, from Latin stuppa tow, from Greek styppē

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to STOP

Synonyms

break, break off, break up, can [slang], cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop, end, give over, halt, knock off, lay off, leave off, pack (up or in), quit, shut off, have done with, put the kibosh on

Antonyms

continue, hang on, persist

Related Words

complete, conclude, finish; close (down); deactivate; block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem; call, suspend; arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash, squelch, stamp, stanch (or staunch), stunt, suppress, turn back; pause, stay, suspend; abolish, abort, annul, demolish, destroy, dissolve, kill, ruin, scuttle, snuff

Near Antonyms

carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep up, run on; advance, proceed, progress; actuate, drive, impel, propel, stir

Synonym Discussion of STOP

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>.

Rhymes with STOP

bop, chap, chop, clop, cop, crop, drop, flop, fop, glop, hop, knop, lop, mop, op, plop, pop, prop, scop, shop, slop, sop, strop, swap, top, whop

²stop

noun

Definition of STOP

1

a : cessation, end

b : a pause or breaking off in speech

2

a (1) : a graduated set of organ pipes of similar design and tone quality (2) : a corresponding set of vibrators or reeds of a reed organ (3) : stop knob —often used figuratively in phrases like pull out all the stops to suggest holding nothing back

b : a means of regulating the pitch of a musical instrument

3

a : something that impedes, obstructs, or brings to a halt : impediment, obstacle

b : the aperture of a camera lens; also : a marking of a series (as of f-numbers) on a camera for indicating settings of the diaphragm

c : a drain plug : stopper

4

: a device for arresting or limiting motion

5

: the act of stopping : the state of being stopped : check

6

a : a halt in a journey : stay <made a brief stop to refuel>

b : a stopping place <a bus stop>

7

a chiefly British : any of several punctuation marks

b —used in telegrams and cables to indicate a period

c : a pause or break in a verse that marks the end of a grammatical unit

8

a : an order stopping payment (as of a check or note) by a bank

b : stop order

9

: a consonant characterized by complete closure of the breath passage in the course of articulation — compare continuant

10

: a depression in the face of an animal at the junction of forehead and muzzle

11

: a function of an electronic device that stops a recording

Examples of STOP

1. His first stop will be Washington, D.C.
2. Our first stop has to be the gas station.
3. I need to make a stop at the grocery store on the way home.
4. The next stop is Main Street and Tower Square.
5. I'm getting off at the next stop.
6. Slow down as you approach the stop.

First Known Use of STOP

15th century

Related to STOP

Synonyms

layover, stopover

Antonyms

continuance, continuation

Related Words

break, pause, rest

Near Antonyms

catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus; advantage, break, edge; aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden (also handmaid), help

Other Pictures (on film) Terms

daguerreotype, emulsion, fill, sepia, still

³stop

adjective

Definition of STOP

: serving to stop : designed to stop <stop line> <stop signal>

First Known Use of STOP

1594