stop

stop1 [ stap ] verb ***

▸ 1 prevent something

▸ 2 no longer do something

▸ 3 no longer move

▸ 4 (make) work no longer

▸ 5 stay at someone's house

▸ 6 block pipe/hole etc.

▸ 1 no longer do something

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) transitive to prevent someone from doing something or prevent something from happening:

Policies like this aren't going to stop crime.

stop someone (from) doing something: A broken leg won't stop me from going.

there's nothing to stop you: There's nothing to stop you from asking him. He might agree.

a ) to prevent a payment from being made:

When they saw his work, they stopped payment on their check.

2. ) intransitive or transitive to no longer do something:

We stopped work when we heard the alarm.

stop doing something: I want to stop smoking.

Suddenly everyone stopped talking.

a ) intransitive if something stops, it does not continue:

When the rain stops, I'm going out.

b ) stop it/that SPOKEN used for telling someone not to do something that they are doing:

Stop it! You'll hurt him!

3. ) intransitive to no longer move:

The car stopped at the traffic lights.

Lots of people stopped and stared at the accident.

a ) transitive to ask someone to stop walking or driving so you can talk to them:

I stopped a woman and asked her for directions.

He was stopped for speeding.

b ) intransitive if a bus or train stops somewhere, it stops moving in order to let passengers on or off:

stop at: Does the train stop at terminal three?

c ) intransitive to pause while you are moving or doing something so you can do something else:

He stopped and listened before opening the door.

Did you ever stop to think what might happen?

stop to do something: I stopped to get a drink of water.

stop for: I stopped at the store for some cheese.

d ) stop dead/short to stop moving very unexpectedly

4. ) intransitive or transitive to no longer work, or cause something to no longer work:

My watch has stopped.

Can you stop the engine?

5. ) intransitive or transitive BRITISH SPOKEN to stay at someone's house for a short time

6. ) stop or stop up transitive to block something such as a pipe or hole so that water or another substance cannot go through it

stop at nothing

to do anything to get what you want, even if it is very bad:

They will stop at nothing to get him elected.

stop something in its tracks

to prevent something from continuing:

Protests have stopped construction in its tracks.

stop the press

to stop a newspaper from printing because you have important news to add

stop short

to suddenly stop what you are doing or saying:

I started to explain but stopped short when I realized Adam was in the room.

stop short of (doing) something

to not do something, although you almost do it:

I stopped short of telling him what I really thought.

stop (you) in your tracks

to stop moving in a sudden way, or make you stop moving

there's no stopping someone

used for saying that it is impossible to prevent someone from doing something:

There'll be no stopping him once he starts talking.

what's stopping you (from doing something)? INFORMAL

used for asking why someone does not do something:

I can't just join the Peace Corps. What's stopping you?

,stop `back phrasal verb intransitive AMERICAN

to return somewhere later:

Please stop back later, and I'll have this ready.

,stop `by phrasal verb intransitive or transitive

same as STOP OFF:

Please stop by my office.

,stop `in phrasal verb intransitive INFORMAL

same as STOP OFF:

Stop in for a drink if you have time.

,stop `off phrasal verb intransitive

to visit somewhere before continuing to another place:

We stopped off in town on the way to Jenni's house.

Could you stop off at the supermarket and get some bread?

,stop `over phrasal verb intransitive

same as STOP OFF:

I'd like to stop over in Carville and visit their historical museum.

`stop up phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive if a sink or BATHTUB stops up, water will not empty out because the pipes are full of something that should not be there

2. ) transitive same as STOP1 6:

We need to stop up that hole.

stop

stop 2 [ stap ] noun count **

1. ) a place where you stop on a trip:

The President's first stop on his tour will be Honolulu.

If you need an overnight stop near Santa Fe, this is an ideal place.

make a stop: The bus will make an additional stop in Fargo.

a ) a period when you stop on a trip:

After a brief stop for coffee, we were on our way.

b ) a place where a bus or train stops for passengers to get on or off:

I'm getting off at the next stop.

2. ) one of the parts on an organ that you push or pull in order to control the level of sound

3. ) LINGUISTICS a consonant sound produced by stopping and then starting the flow of air through your mouth: PLOSIVE

come to a stop

to stop:

Suddenly the music came to a stop.

come/jerk/skid etc. to a stop

to stop moving:

The truck skidded to a stop to avoid hitting a dog.

put a stop to something

to prevent or end something:

We must put a stop to unsafe labor practices.

Losing his job put a stop to his plans to buy a new car.

=> PULL1