Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense stalls, present participle stalling, past tense, past participle stalled
1. verb
If a process stalls, or if someone or something stalls it, the process stops but may continue at a later time.
They will try to stall the bill until the current session ends. [VERB noun]
...but the peace process stalled. [VERB]
Negotiations remained stalled yesterday in New York. [VERB-ed]
2. verb
If you stall, you try to avoid doing something until later.
Some parties have accused the governor of stalling. [VERB]
Thomas had spent all week stalling over his decision. [V + over/on]
Synonyms: play for time, delay, hedge, procrastinate More Synonyms of stall
3. verb
If you stall someone, you prevent them from doing something until a later time.
Shop manager Brian Steel stalled the man until the police arrived. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: hold up, delay, detain, divert More Synonyms of stall
4. verb
If a vehicle stalls or if you accidentally stall it, the engine stops suddenly.
The engine stalled. [VERB]
Your foot falls off the pedal and you stall the car. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: stop dead, jam, seize up, catch More Synonyms of stall
5. countable noun
A stall is a large table on which you put goods that you want to sell, or information that you want to give people.
...market stalls selling local fruits.
Synonyms: stand, table, counter, booth More Synonyms of stall
6. plural noun
The stalls in a theatre or concert hall are the seats on the ground floor directly in front of the stage.
[mainly British]regional note: in AM, use orchestra
7. countable noun
A stall is a small enclosed area in a room which is used for a particular purpose, for example a shower.
[US]regional note: in BRIT, usually use cubicle
More Synonyms of stall
stall in British English1
(stɔːl)
noun
1.
a.
a compartment in a stable or shed for confining or feeding a single animal
b. another name for stable1 (sense 1)
2.
a small often temporary stand or booth for the display and sale of goods
3. (in a church)
a.
one of a row of seats, usually divided from the others by armrests or a small screen, for the use of the choir or clergy
b.
a pen
4.
an instance of an engine stalling
5.
a condition of an aircraft in flight in which a reduction in speed or an increase in the aircraft's angle of attack causes a sudden loss of lift resulting in a downward plunge
6.
any small room or compartment
7. British
a.
a seat in a theatre or cinema that resembles a chair, usually fixed to the floor
b. (plural)
the area of seats on the ground floor of a theatre or cinema nearest to the stageor screen
8.
a tubelike covering for a finger, as in a glove
9. (plural) short for starting stalls
10. set out one's stall
verb
11.
to cause (a motor vehicle or its engine) to stop, usually by incorrect use of the clutch or incorrect adjustment of the fuel mixture, or (of an engine or motor vehicle) to stop, usually for these reasons
12.
to cause (an aircraft) to go into a stall or (of an aircraft) to go into a stall
13.
to stick or cause to stick fast, as in mud or snow
14. (transitive)
to confine (an animal) in a stall
Word origin
Old English steall a place for standing; related to Old High German stall, and stellen to set
stall in British English2
(stɔːl)
verb
1.
to employ delaying tactics towards (someone); be evasive
2. (intransitive) sport, mainly US
to play or fight below one's best in order to deceive
noun
3.
an evasive move; pretext
Word origin
C16: from Anglo-French estale bird used as a decoy, influenced by stall1
stall in American English1
(stɔl)
verb intransitive
1.
to act or speak evasively or hesitantly so as to deceive or delay
to stall for time
verb transitive
2.
to put off or delay by stalling
usually with off
to stall off creditors
noun
3.
any action, device, etc. used to deceive or delay; evasive trick
Word origin
< stall, decoy, var. of obs. stale, one who lures < Anglo-Fr estale < OFr estaler < Gmc, as in OHG stal
stall in American English2
(stɔl)
noun
1.
a. Obsolete
a stable
b.
a compartment for one animal in a stable
2.
any of various compartments, booths, separate sections, etc.
; specif.,
a.
a booth, table, or counter, as at a market or fair, at which goods are sold
b.
a pew or enclosed seat in the main part of a church or in the choir
c.
a small, enclosed space, as a compartment in which one showers
d. US
any of the spaces marked off, as in a garage, for parking individual automobiles
3. British
a.
an orchestra seat in a theater, esp. one in the front part
b. [pl.]
orchestra (sense 3) orchestra (sense 3a); also, the people sitting in these seats
4.
a protective sheath, as of rubber, for a finger or thumb; cot
5.
the condition of being brought to a stop or standstill, as through some malfunction
6. Aeronautics
a condition in which an improper angle of attack and a lack of airspeed combine to disrupt the airflow around an airfoil enough to result in a loss of lift which forces the aircraft todrop, possibly going out of control
verb transitive, verb intransitive
7.
to put, keep, or be kept in a stall
8.
to cause to stick fast or to be stuck fast, as in mud
9.
to bring or be brought to a stop or standstill, esp. unintentionally
10.
to stop or cause to stop through some malfunction
said of a motor or engine
11. Aeronautics
to put or go into a stall
Word origin
ME stal < OE steall, place, station, stall, stable, akin to OHG stal < IE base *stel-, to place, set up, stiff, stem > still1
stall in Automotive Engineering
(stɔl)
Word forms: (present) stalls, (past) stalled, (perfect) stalled, (progressive) stalling
verb (intransitive) (transitive)
(Automotive engineering: Design and performance)
If a vehicle stalls or if you accidentally stall it, the engine stops suddenly.
She slammed on the brakes and the engine stalled.
The engine stalled and he saw that the fuel gauge needle hovered over empty.
Worn, cracked, or brittle ignition wires covered with grease and road grime can causean engine to fail intermittently and stall.
The fault is a possible issue with a connecting terminal that could cause the engine to stall.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Is this just a stalling tactic to sell him in the summer?
The Sun (2010)
The opposition coalition has accused the socialists of trying to stall the process.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They could sell their surplus to local stalls and shops.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The car stalled when he went to pull away and that cost him around a second.
The Sun (2012)
Success could be yours if you stop stalling and make a choice.
The Sun (2011)
He might be flattered by that result and stall one will not be ideal.
The Sun (2016)
We went for the special which involved a vertical climb until the aircraft stalled.
The Sun (2011)
So why did he waste them by dumping them in the choir stalls?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This impact is not confined to the front of the stalls.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is a man with a stall selling hazelnuts.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There will also be live music on stage and food stalls.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She drove slowly out of the yard and stalled the engine again.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
All that was missing were little stalls selling poached eggs.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You can be strong without being stubborn and home plans that seemed to be stalling suddenly make progress.
The Sun (2014)
But their double act is in danger when their first day running their new stall together ends in disaster.
The Sun (2013)
His international career has stalled after being banned for nine months in the wake of refusing to take a drug test.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
At any stage, the adoption process can stall.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A stall selling small iron dishes and hammers catches my eye.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A shower stall was rotten.
The Sun (2009)
Negotiations are stalled, and yesterday the army mobilised more reservists; a sign that generals expect a lengthy campaign.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But the dresses, displayed at her stall, were a sensation and were soon more popular than the juice.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It's like a huge crafts mall, containing tens of thousands of individual stalls run by people selling the stuff they make.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Word lists with
stall
terms used in aviation
In other languages
stall
British English: stall /stɔːl/ NOUN
A stall is a large table on which you put goods that you want to sell, or information that you want to give people.
...market stalls selling local fruit.
American English: stall
Arabic: كُشْك
Brazilian Portuguese: barraca feira
Chinese: 货摊
Croatian: štand
Czech: stánek
Danish: stand
Dutch: stalletje
European Spanish: puesto mercado
Finnish: koju
French: étalage
German: Verkaufsstand
Greek: υπαίθριος πάγκος
Italian: stand
Japanese: 屋台
Korean: 상품 진열대
Norwegian: bås
Polish: stragan
European Portuguese: barraca feira
Romanian: chioșc
Russian: стойло
Latin American Spanish: puesto tienda de un mercado
Swedish: stånd salustånd
Thai: แผงขายของ
Turkish: tezgah
Ukrainian: прилавок
Vietnamese: quầy bán hàng
All related terms of 'stall'
box stall
a small stall with four walls for holding a horse
stall-fed
(of an animal) kept and fed in a stall , esp in order to be fattened up for slaughter
fruit stall
a market stall that sells a variety of edible fruits
stall angle
the angle between the chord line of an aerofoil and the undisturbed relative airflow at which stalling occurs
stall-feed
to keep and feed (an animal) in a stall , esp as an intensive method of fattening it for slaughter
shower stall
a shower enclosure
refreshment stall
a bar or stall that offers a variety of drinks for sale
newsstand
A newsstand is a stall in the street or a public place, which sells newspapers and magazines .
set out your stall
to make all the necessary plans or arrangements that you need to achieve something, and show that you are determined to achieve it
white elephant stall
a stall , usually at a fete or fundraising event, where unwanted possessions are sold
set out one's stall
to make the necessary arrangements for the achievement of something and show that one is determined to achieve it
stalling angle
the angle between the chord line of an aerofoil and the undisturbed relative airflow at which stalling occurs
Chinese translation of 'stall'
stall
(stɔːl)
n(c)
(in street, market etc) 货(貨)摊(攤) (huòtān) (个(個), gè)
(in stable) 牲畜棚 (shēngchùpéng) (个(個), gè)
vt
[car]使熄火 (shǐ xīhuǒ)
(= delay)
[person]拖住 (tuōzhù)
[process]拖延 (tuōyán)
vi
[engine, car]熄火 (xīhuǒ)
[person]拖延 (tuōyán)
Derived Forms
the stallsn pl (Brit) (in cinema, theatre) 正厅(廳)前座 (zhèngtīng qiánzuò)
(verb)
Definition
to stop (a motor vehicle or its engine) or (of a motor vehicle or its engine) to stop, by incorrect use of the clutch or incorrect adjustment of the fuel mixture
The engine stalled.
Synonyms
stop dead
jam
The phone lines are jammed. Everybody wants to talk about it.
seize up
catch
stick
The dagger stuck tightly in the silver scabbard.
stop short
1 (noun)
Definition
a small stand for the display and sale of goods
market stalls selling local fruits
Synonyms
stand
She bought a hot dog from a stand on a street corner.
table
I placed his drink on the small table.
counter
booth
kiosk
I was getting cigarettes at the kiosk.
2 (noun)
Definition
a compartment in a stable or shed for a single animal
mucking out the animal stalls
Synonyms
enclosure
This enclosure was so vast that the outermost wall could hardly be seen.
pen
a holding pen for sheep
coop
Behind the house, the pair set up a chicken coop.
corral
As we neared the corral, the horses pranced and whinnied.
sty
1 (verb)
an attempt to stall the negotiations
Synonyms
hinder
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
obstruct
Drivers who park illegally obstruct the flow of traffic.
impede
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
block
All attempts to complain to his superiors were blocked.
check
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
arrest
The new rules could arrest the development of good research.
halt
Striking workers halted production at the auto plant yesterday.
slow down
hamper
I was hampered by a lack of information.
thwart
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.
sabotage
2 (verb)
Definition
to employ delaying tactics towards (someone)
Tomas had spent all week stalling over a decision.
Synonyms
play for time
delay
I delayed my departure until she could join me.
hedge
When asked about his involvement, he hedged.
procrastinate
We often procrastinate when faced with something we do not want to do.
stonewall
beat about the bush (informal)
temporize
`Not exactly, sir,' he temporized.
drag your feet
They were dragging their feet so as to obstruct political reforms.
3 (verb)
Definition
to employ delaying tactics towards (someone)
The shop manager stalled the man until the police arrived.
Synonyms
hold up
delay
The passengers were delayed by bad weather.
detain
We won't detain you any further.
divert
They want to divert the attention of the people from the real issues.
distract
Video games sometimes distract him from his homework.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arrest
Definition
to slow or stop the development of
The new rules could arrest the development of good research.
Synonyms
stop,
end,
hold,
limit,
check,
block,
slow,
delay,
halt,
stall,
stay,
interrupt,
suppress,
restrain,
hamper,
inhibit,
hinder,
obstruct,
retard,
impede
in the sense of block
Definition
to impede, retard, or prevent (an action or procedure)
All attempts to complain to his superiors were blocked.
Synonyms
prevent,
stop,
check,
bar,
frustrate,
foil,
thwart,
obstruct,
forestall,
nip in the bud
in the sense of check
Definition
to slow the growth or progress of
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
Synonyms
stop,
control,
limit,
arrest,
delay,
halt,
curb,
bar,
restrain,
inhibit,
rein,
thwart,
hinder,
repress,
obstruct,
retard,
impede,
bridle,
stem the flow of,
nip in the bud,
put a spoke in someone's wheel
Synonyms of 'stall'
stall
Explore 'stall' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of coop
Definition
a cage or pen for poultry or small animals
Behind the house, the pair set up a chicken coop.
Synonyms
pen,
pound,
box,
cage,
enclosure,
hutch,
corral (US, Canadian)
in the sense of corral
Definition
an enclosure for cattle or horses
As we neared the corral, the horses pranced and whinnied.
Synonyms
enclosure,
yard,
pen,
confine,
coop,
fold
in the sense of delay
Definition
to put (something) off to a later time
I delayed my departure until she could join me.
Synonyms
put off,
suspend,
postpone,
stall,
shelve,
prolong,
defer,
hold over,
temporize,
put on the back burner (informal),
protract,
take a rain check on (US, Canadian, informal)
in the sense of delay
Definition
to slow up or cause to be late
The passengers were delayed by bad weather.
Synonyms
hold up,
detain,
hold back,
stop,
arrest,
halt,
hinder,
obstruct,
retard,
impede,
bog down,
set back,
slow up
in the sense of detain
Definition
to delay (someone)
We won't detain you any further.
Synonyms
delay,
keep,
stop,
hold up,
hamper,
hinder,
retard,
impede,
keep back,
slow up or down
in the sense of distract
Definition
to draw (a person or his or her attention) away from something
Video games sometimes distract him from his homework.
Synonyms
divert,
sidetrack,
draw away,
turn aside,
lead astray,
draw or lead away from
in the sense of divert
Definition
to distract the attention of
They want to divert the attention of the people from the real issues.
Synonyms
distract,
shift,
deflect,
detract,
sidetrack,
draw away,
be a distraction,
lead astray,
draw or lead away from
in the sense of drag your feet
They were dragging their feet so as to obstruct political reforms.
Synonyms
stall,
procrastinate,
block,
hold back,
obstruct
in the sense of halt
Definition
to come to a stop or bring (someone or something) to a stop
Striking workers halted production at the auto plant yesterday.
Synonyms
hold back,
end,
check,
block,
arrest,
stem,
curb,
terminate,
obstruct,
staunch,
cut short,
impede,
bring to an end,
stem the flow,
nip in the bud
in the sense of hamper
Definition
to make it difficult for (someone or something) to move or progress
I was hampered by a lack of information.
Synonyms
hinder,
handicap,
hold up,
prevent,
restrict,
frustrate,
curb,
slow down,
restrain,
hamstring,
interfere with,
cramp,
thwart,
obstruct,
impede,
hobble,
fetter,
encumber,
trammel
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hedge
Definition
to avoid making a decision by making noncommittal statements
When asked about his involvement, he hedged.
Synonyms
prevaricate,
evade,
sidestep,
duck (informal),
dodge,
flannel (British, informal),
waffle (informal, British),
quibble,
beg the question,
pussyfoot (informal),
equivocate,
temporize,
be noncommittal
in the sense of impede
Definition
to block or make progress or action difficult
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
Synonyms
hinder,
stop,
slow (down),
check,
bar,
block,
delay,
hold up,
brake,
disrupt,
curb,
restrain,
hamper,
thwart,
clog,
obstruct,
retard,
encumber,
cumber,
throw a spanner in the works of (British, informal)
in the sense of jam
Definition
to fill (a place) with people or vehicles
The phone lines are jammed. Everybody wants to talk about it.
Synonyms
congest,
block,
clog,
stick,
halt,
stall,
obstruct
in the sense of kiosk
Definition
a small booth from which cigarettes, newspapers, and sweets are sold
I was getting cigarettes at the kiosk.
Synonyms
booth,
stand,
counter,
stall,
newsstand,
bookstall
in the sense of obstruct
Definition
to make progress or activity difficult
Drivers who park illegally obstruct the flow of traffic.
Synonyms
hold up,
stop,
check,
bar,
block,
prevent,
arrest,
restrict,
interrupt,
slow down,
hamstring,
interfere with,
hamper,
inhibit,
clog,
hinder,
retard,
impede,
get in the way of,
bring to a standstill,
cumber
in the sense of pen
Definition
an enclosure in which domestic animals are kept
a holding pen for sheep
Synonyms
enclosure,
pound,
fold,
cage,
coop,
hutch,
corral (US, Canadian),
sty
in the sense of procrastinate
Definition
to put off (an action) until later
We often procrastinate when faced with something we do not want to do.
Synonyms
delay,
stall,
postpone,
prolong,
put off,
defer,
adjourn,
retard,
dally,
play for time,
gain time,
temporize,
play a waiting game,
protract,
drag your feet (informal),
be dilatory
in the sense of stick
Definition
to come or be brought to a standstill
The dagger stuck tightly in the silver scabbard.
Synonyms
catch,
lodge,
jam,
stop,
clog,
snag,
be embedded,
be bogged down,
come to a standstill,
become immobilized
in the sense of table
Definition
a piece of furniture consisting of a flat top supported by legs
I placed his drink on the small table.
Synonyms
counter,
bench,
stand,
board,
surface,
slab,
work surface
in the sense of temporize
Definition
to delay, act evasively, or protract a negotiation in order to gain time or avoid making a decision
`Not exactly, sir,' he temporized.
Synonyms
play for time,
delay,
stall,
procrastinate,
be evasive,
beat about the bush,
gain time,
equivocate,
play a waiting game,
hum and haw,
tergiversate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of thwart
Definition
to prevent or foil
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.