STOP (stopped, stopping)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stop mean? 

• STOP (noun)
  The noun STOP has 11 senses:

1. the event of something ending

2. the act of stopping something

3. a brief stay in the course of a journey

4. the state of inactivity following an interruption

5. a spot where something halts or pauses

6. a consonant produced by stopping the flow of air at some point and suddenly releasing it

7. a punctuation mark (.) placed at the end of a declarative sentence to indicate a full stop or after abbreviations

8. (music) a knob on an organ that is pulled to change the sound quality from the organ pipes

9. a mechanical device in a camera that controls size of aperture of the lens

10. a restraint that checks the motion of something

11. an obstruction in a pipe or tube

  Familiarity information: STOP used as a noun is familiar.

• STOP (verb)
  The verb STOP has 11 senses:

1. come to a halt, stop moving

2. put an end to a state or an activity

3. stop from happening or developing

4. interrupt a trip

5. cause to stop

6. prevent completion

7. hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of

8. seize on its way

9. have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical

10. render unsuitable for passage

11. stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or developments

  Familiarity information: STOP used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STOP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The event of something ending

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

halt; stop

Context example:

it came to a stop at the bottom of the hill

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

conclusion; ending; finish (event whose occurrence ends something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stop"):

cessation; surcease (a stopping)

stand; standstill; tie-up (an interruption of normal activity)

Derivation:

stop (cause to stop)

stop (come to a halt, stop moving)

stop (put an end to a state or an activity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of stopping something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

stop; stoppage

Context example:

his stoppage of the flow resulted in a flood

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

act; deed; human action; human activity (something that people do or cause to happen)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stop"):

stand-down; standdown ((military) a temporary stop of offensive military action)

haemostasia; haemostasis; hemostasia; hemostasis (surgical procedure of stopping the flow of blood (as with a hemostat))

Derivation:

stop (prevent completion)

stop (stop from happening or developing)

stop (put an end to a state or an activity)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A brief stay in the course of a journey

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

layover; stop; stopover

Context example:

they made a stopover to visit their friends

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

stay (continuing or remaining in a place or state)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stop"):

pit stop (a brief stop at a pit during an automobile race to take on fuel or service the car)

night-stop (a break in a journey for the night)

stand (a stop made by a touring musical or theatrical group to give a performance)

pit stop (a stop during an automobile trip for rest and refreshment)

Derivation:

stop (put an end to a state or an activity)

stop (interrupt a trip)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The state of inactivity following an interruption

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

arrest; check; halt; hitch; stay; stop; stoppage

Context example:

he spent the entire stop in his seat

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

inaction; inactiveness; inactivity (the state of being inactive)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stop"):

countercheck (a check that restrains another check)

logjam (any stoppage attributable to unusual activity)

Derivation:

stop (stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or developments)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A spot where something halts or pauses

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Context example:

his next stop is Atlanta

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

place; spot; topographic point (a point located with respect to surface features of some region)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stop"):

bus stop (a place on a bus route where buses stop to discharge and take on passengers)

checkpoint (a place (as at a frontier) where travellers are stopped for inspection and clearance)

loading area; loading zone (a stop where carriers can be loaded and unloaded)

stopover; way station (a stopping place on a journey)

Derivation:

stop (interrupt a trip)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A consonant produced by stopping the flow of air at some point and suddenly releasing it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

occlusive; plosive; plosive consonant; plosive speech sound; stop; stop consonant

Context example:

his stop consonants are too aspirated

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

obstruent (a consonant that is produced with a partial or complete blockage of the airflow from the lungs through the nose or mouth)

Meronyms (parts of "stop"):

implosion (the initial occluded phase of a stop consonant)

explosion; plosion (the terminal forced release of pressure built up during the occlusive phase of a stop consonant)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stop"):

labial stop (a stop consonant that is produced with the lips)

glottal catch; glottal plosive; glottal stop (a stop consonant articulated by releasing pressure at the glottis; as in the sudden onset of a vowel)

click; suction stop (a stop consonant made by the suction of air into the mouth (as in Bantu))

Sense 7

Meaning:

A punctuation mark (.) placed at the end of a declarative sentence to indicate a full stop or after abbreviations

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

full point; full stop; period; point; stop

Context example:

in England they call a period a stop

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

punctuation; punctuation mark (the marks used to clarify meaning by indicating separation of words into sentences and clauses and phrases)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stop"):

suspension point ((usually plural) one of a series of points indicating that something has been omitted or that the sentence is incomplete)

Sense 8

Meaning:

(music) a knob on an organ that is pulled to change the sound quality from the organ pipes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the organist pulled out all the stops

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

knob (a round handle)

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Holonyms ("stop" is a part of...):

organ; pipe organ (wind instrument whose sound is produced by means of pipes arranged in sets supplied with air from a bellows and controlled from a large complex musical keyboard)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A mechanical device in a camera that controls size of aperture of the lens

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

diaphragm; stop

Context example:

the new cameras adjust the diaphragm automatically

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

mechanical device (mechanism consisting of a device that works on mechanical principles)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stop"):

iris; iris diaphragm (diaphragm consisting of thin overlapping plates that can be adjusted to change the diameter of a central opening)

Holonyms ("stop" is a part of...):

camera; photographic camera (equipment for taking photographs (usually consisting of a lightproof box with a lens at one end and light-sensitive film at the other))

Sense 10

Meaning:

A restraint that checks the motion of something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

catch; stop

Context example:

he used a book as a stop to hold the door open

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

constraint; restraint (a device that retards something's motion)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stop"):

trip; tripper (a catch mechanism that acts as a switch)

click; detent; dog; pawl (a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward)

doorstop; doorstopper (a stop that keeps open doors from moving)

bench hook (any of various stops on a workbench against which work can be pushed (as while chiseling or planing))

Derivation:

stop (hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of)

stop (seize on its way)

stop (render unsuitable for passage)

Sense 11

Meaning:

An obstruction in a pipe or tube

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

block; blockage; closure; occlusion; stop; stoppage

Context example:

we had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe

Hypernyms ("stop" is a kind of...):

impediment; impedimenta; obstructer; obstruction; obstructor (any structure that makes progress difficult)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stop"):

breech closer; breechblock (a metal block in breech-loading firearms that is withdrawn to insert a cartridge and replaced to close the breech before firing)

plug; stopper; stopple (blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly)

vapor lock; vapour lock (a stoppage in a pipeline caused by gas bubbles (especially a stoppage that develops in hot weather in an internal-combustion engine when fuel in the gas line boils and forms bubbles that block the flow of gasoline to the carburetor))

• STOP (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Come to a halt, stop moving

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

halt; stop

Context example:

She stopped in front of a store window

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stop"):

draw up; haul up; pull up (come to a halt after driving somewhere)

settle (come to rest)

brake (stop travelling by applying a brake)

stall (experience a stall in flight, of airplanes)

conk; stall (come to a stop)

check (abandon the intended prey, turn, and pursue an inferior prey)

check (stop in a chase especially when scent is lost)

go off (stop running, functioning, or operating)

check (stop for a moment, as if out of uncertainty or caution)

pull up short (stop abruptly)

rein; rein in (stop or slow up one's horse or oneself by or as if by pulling the reins)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

They stop the animals
These cars won't stop

Antonym:

start (begin or set in motion)

Derivation:

stop (the event of something ending)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Put an end to a state or an activity

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

cease; discontinue; give up; lay off; quit; stop

Context example:

Quit teasing your little brother

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stop"):

drop; knock off (stop pursuing or acting)

leave off (stop using)

sign off (cease broadcasting; get off the air; as of radio stations)

retire; withdraw (withdraw from active participation)

pull the plug (prevent from happening or continuing)

close off; shut off (stem the flow of)

cheese (used in the imperative (get away, or stop it))

call it a day; call it quits (stop doing what one is doing)

break (give up)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Sentence example:

They stop moving

Derivation:

stop (a brief stay in the course of a journey)

stop (the act of stopping something)

stop (the event of something ending)

stoppage (the act of stopping something)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Stop from happening or developing

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

block; halt; kibosh; stop

Context example:

Halt the process

Hypernyms (to "stop" is one way to...):

forbid; foreclose; forestall; preclude; prevent (keep from happening or arising; make impossible)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stop"):

embargo (prevent commerce)

stay (stop a judicial process)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They stop him from writing the letter

Derivation:

stop (the act of stopping something)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Interrupt a trip

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

stop; stop over

Context example:

they stopped for three days in Florence

Hypernyms (to "stop" is one way to...):

break up; cut off; disrupt; interrupt (make a break in)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stop"):

call (make a stop in a harbour)

lay over; stop over (interrupt a journey temporarily, e.g., overnight)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

stop (a brief stay in the course of a journey)

stop (a spot where something halts or pauses)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Cause to stop

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

stop the thief

Cause:

halt; stop (come to a halt, stop moving)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stop"):

brake (cause to stop by applying the brakes)

draw up; pull up (cause (a vehicle) to stop)

stall (cause an airplane to go into a stall)

stall (cause an engine to stop)

flag down (signal to stop)

bring up (cause to come to a sudden stop)

arrest; halt; hold (cause to stop)

rein; rein in (stop or check by or as if by a pull at the reins)

check (arrest the motion (of something) abruptly)

cut (stop filming)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Antonym:

start (get going or set in motion)

Derivation:

stop (the event of something ending)

stoppage (the act of stopping something)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Prevent completion

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

break; break off; discontinue; stop

Context example:

break off the negotiations

Hypernyms (to "stop" is one way to...):

end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stop"):

break up; cut off; disrupt; interrupt (make a break in)

bog; bog down (get stuck while doing something)

fracture (become fractured)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

stop (the act of stopping something)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

arrest; check; contain; hold back; stop; turn back

Context example:

Turn back the tide of communism

Hypernyms (to "stop" is one way to...):

defend (be on the defensive; act against an attack)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stop"):

cut down; cut out (intercept (a player))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

stop (a restraint that checks the motion of something)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Seize on its way

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

intercept; stop

Context example:

The fighter plane was ordered to intercept an aircraft that had entered the country's airspace

Hypernyms (to "stop" is one way to...):

catch; grab; take hold of (take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stop"):

cut off; cut out (cut off and stop)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

stop (a restraint that checks the motion of something)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

cease; end; finish; stop; terminate

Context example:

The symphony ends in a pianissimo

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stop"):

break (come to an end)

lapse (end, at least for a long time)

discontinue (come to or be at an end)

come out; turn out (result or end)

close; conclude (come to a close)

disappear; go away; vanish (become invisible or unnoticeable)

go; run low; run short (to be spent or finished)

run out (become used up; be exhausted)

climax; culminate (end, especially to reach a final or climactic stage)

disappear; vanish (cease to exist)

adjourn; break up; recess (close at the end of a session)

go out (become extinguished)

cut out (cease operating)

pass away (go out of existence)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Sense 10

Meaning:

Render unsuitable for passage

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

bar; barricade; block; block off; block up; blockade; stop

Context example:

stop the busy road

Hypernyms (to "stop" is one way to...):

block; close up; impede; jam; obstruct; obturate; occlude (block passage through)

Verb group:

block; obstruct (shut out from view or get in the way so as to hide from sight)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stop"):

block off; close off; shut off (block off the passage through)

close (bar access to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

stop (a restraint that checks the motion of something)

stopper (blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly)

Sense 11

Meaning:

Stop and wait, as if awaiting further instructions or developments

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

hold on; stop

Context example:

Hold on a moment!

Hypernyms (to "stop" is one way to...):

break; interrupt (terminate)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

stop; stoppage (the state of inactivity following an interruption)

 Context examples 

AFP464 kills cancer cells or stops them from dividing.

(AFP464, NCI Dictionary)

"We've got three cartridges. But it's a dead shot. Couldn't miss it. It's got away with three of our dogs, an' we oughter put a stop to it. What d'ye say?"

(White Fang, by Jack London)

It stops cancer cells from dividing and may prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow.

(Afinitor, NCI Dictionary)

It stops cells from dividing and may kill cancer cells.

(Alvocidib, NCI Dictionary)

You were whispering and laughing together on the sofa last night, and you stopped when I came in.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

No treatment can stop the disease.

(Alzheimer's Disease, NIH: National Institute on Aging)

The stop time of the adverse event.

(Adverse Event End Time, NCI Thesaurus)

Adrucil stops cells from making DNA and it may kill cancer cells.

(Adrucil, NCI Dictionary)

The whole district was in sorrow and dismay because of them, and yet no one could do anything to stop this.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Georgina Jackson, Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology in the Institute of Mental Health, said, This research has shown that the 'urge' is increased by trying to stop yourself.

(Why Is Yawning so Contagious?, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)