stall
1 of 5noun (1)
ˈstȯl 
1
a
: a compartment for a domestic animal in a stable or barn
b
: a space marked off for parking a motor vehicle
2
a
: a seat in the chancel of a church with back and sides wholly or partly enclosed
b
: a church pew
c
chiefly British : a front orchestra seat in a theater —usually used in plural
3
: a booth, stand, or counter at which articles are displayed for sale
4
: a protective sheath for a finger or toe
5
: a small compartment
a shower stall
especially : one with a toilet or urinal
stall
2 of 5verb (1)
stalled; stalling; stalls
transitive verb
1
: to put into or keep in a stall
2
obsolete : install sense 2
3
a
: to bring to a standstill : block
especially : mire
b
: to cause (an engine) to stop usually inadvertently
c
: to cause (an aircraft or airfoil) to go into a stall
intransitive verb
1
: to come to a standstill (as from mired wheels or engine failure)
2
: to experience a stall in flying
stall
3 of 5noun (2)
: the condition of an airfoil or aircraft in which excessive angle of attack causes disruption of airflow with attendant loss of lift
stall
4 of 5noun (3)
: a ruse to deceive or delay
stall
5 of 5verb (2)
stalled; stalling; stalls
intransitive verb
: to play for time : delay
transitive verb
: to hold off, divert, or delay by evasion or deception
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- arrest
- bring up
- catch
- check
- draw up
- fetch up
- halt
- hold up
- pull up
- stay
- still
- stop
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English steall; akin to Old High German stal place, stall and perhaps to Latin locus (Old Latin stlocus) place
Noun (3) and Verb (2)
alteration of stale lure
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1916, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
1846, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
1903, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Phrases Containing stall
Kids Definition
stall 1 of 3
noun
ˈstȯl
1
: a compartment for one animal in a stable or barn
2
: a booth, stand, or counter where business may be carried on or articles may be displayed for sale
3
: a seat in a church choir : a church pew
4
: a small enclosed private compartment
a shower stall
stall
2 of 3verb
stalled; stalling
: to distract attention or make excuses to gain time
Quit stalling and answer me.
stall
3 of 3verb
stalled; stalling
1
: to stop or cause to stop usually by accident
The engine keeps stalling.
2
: to put or keep in a stall
They stalled the horses for the night.
stall 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to halt
to bring (something) to a standstill endless complaints stalled the process of selecting the winning design for the memorial Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- halt
- stop
- catch
- block
- stay
- arrest
- check
- still
- fetch up
- draw up
- pull up
- hinder
- end
- hold
- hold up
- impede
- snag
- obstruct
- suspend
- dam
- bottleneck
- blockade
- bring up
- clog
- cut off
- stem
- hold back
- balk
- stunt
- detain
- baffle
- terminate
- choke off
- suppress
- conclude
- squelch
- squash
- turn back
- staunch
- call
- repress
- discontinue
- rein (in)
- stanch
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continue
- move
- persist
- keep (on)
- proceed
- keep up
- progress
- march
- advance
- run on
- fare
- follow through (with)
- drive
- push
- spur
- carry on
- wend
- stir
- propel
- goad
- budge
- actuate
- impel
- go along
2
as in to crash
to stop functioning the engine stalls sometimes when it's very cold outside Synonyms & Similar Words
- crash
- die
- fail
- break
- cut out
- break down
- sputter
- jam
- give out
- malfunction
- fizzle
- wheeze
- conk (out)
- act up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- start (up)
stall
2 of 2noun
1
as in booth
Synonyms & Similar Words
- booth
- box
- cavity
- crib
- drawer
- vault
- cabinet
- crypt
- locker
- bunker
- hollow
- loge
- alcove
- bay
- nook
- hole
- niche
- cubicle
- compartment
- cubbyhole
- snuggery
- cell
- chamber
- cube
- recess
- cabin
- pigeonhole
2
as in delay
Synonyms & Similar Words
- delay
- stoppage
- brake
- holdup
- load
- curb
- embargo
- hobble
- arrest
- restraint
- barrier
- rein
- blockade
- blockage
- snag
- constraint
- reef
- hazard
- danger
- burden
- stop
- peril
- check
- obstacle
- stone wall
- rub
- catch
- disadvantage
- bit
- obstruction
- interference
- block
- hitch
- impediment
- brick wall
- let
- cramp
- hurdle
- hindrance
- clog
- cumber
- hardship
- drawback
- chain
- inhibition
- handicap
- difficulty
- balk
- encumbrance
- adversity
- drag
- bar
- embarrassment
- stumbling block
- deterrent
- shackles
- trammel
- crimp
- fetter
- holdback
- manacle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- incentive
- spur
- catalyst
- advantage
- stimulus
- impetus
- break
- edge
- aid
- benefit
- assistance
- goad
- help
- stimulant
- boost
- handmaiden
- handmaid