- stop
- I UK [stɒp] / US [stɑp]
verb
Word forms "stop":
present tense I/you/we/they stop he/she/it stops present participle stopping past tense stopped past participle stopped
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Get it right: stop:When you want to say that someone is no longer doing what they were doing before, use the pattern stop doing something, not "stop to do something":
Wrong: People have practically stopped to write letters to each other.
Right: People have practically stopped writing letters to each other. Compare: The pattern stop to do something means that someone stops what they are doing in order to do something else. It tells you the reason why someone has stopped. He stopped to light a cigarette. (= he stopped talking, walking, working etc, in order to light a cigarette) He has stopped smoking. (=he used to smoke, but he doesn't smoke now)1)a) [transitive] to prevent someone from doing something, or to prevent something from happeningstop someone (from) doing something:Policies like this aren't going to stop crime.
there's nothing to stop you:A broken leg won't stop me from going to the concert.
There's nothing to stop you from asking him. He might agree.
b) to prevent a payment from being madeDid you stop the cheque?
2)a) [intransitive/transitive] to no longer do somethingstop doing something:We stopped work and went for a drink.
I want to stop smoking.
Suddenly everyone stopped talking.
b) [intransitive] if something stops, it does not continueWhen the rain stops, I'm going out.
3) [intransitive] to no longer moveThe 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 that you can talk to themI 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 offstop at:Does the train stop at Nice?
c) [intransitive] to pause while you are moving or doing something so that you can do something elseHe stopped and listened before opening the door.
stop to do something:Did you ever stop to think what might happen?
stop for:I stopped to get a drink of water.
I stopped at the shop for some cheese.
4) [intransitive/transitive] to no longer work, or to cause something to no longer workMy watch has stopped.
Can you stop the engine?
5) [intransitive/transitive] British spoken to stay at someone's house for a short timestop the night:Have you got time to stop for a cup of coffee?
I stopped the night with Tom.
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 dead/short
— to stop moving very unexpectedlystop it/that
— spoken used for telling someone not to do something that they are doingStop it! You'll hurt him!
stop short of (doing) something
— to not do something, although you almost do itI stopped short of telling him what I really thought.
stop (you) in your tracks
— to stop moving in a sudden way, or to make you stop movingThe look on her face stopped me in my tracks.
what's stopping you (from doing something)?
— informal used for asking why someone does not do somethingPhrasal verbs:"I can't just go to Australia." "What's stopping you?"
- stop by- stop in- stop off- stop on- stop out- stop up
II UK [stɒp] / US [stɑp] noun [countable]
Word forms "stop":
singular stop plural stops
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1) a place where you stop on a journeyThe president's first stop on his tour will be Honolulu.
If you require an overnight stop near the airport, this is an ideal hotel.
a) a period when you stop on a journeyAfter 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 offI'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•come/jerk/skid etc to a stop
— to stop movingThe truck skidded to a stop to avoid hitting a dog.
See:pull I, put
English dictionary. 2014.
