stall

[ stawl ]

/ stɔl /

noun

a compartment in a stable or shed for the accommodation of one animal.

a stable or shed for horses or cattle.

a booth or stand in which merchandise is displayed for sale, or in which some business is carried on (sometimes used in combination): a butcher's stall; a bookstall.

carrel(def 1).

one of a number of fixed enclosed seats in the choir or chancel of a church for the use of the clergy.

a pew.

any small compartment or booth for a specific activity or housing a specific thing: a shower stall.

a rectangular space marked off or reserved for parking a car or other vehicle, as in a parking lot.

an instance or the condition of causing an engine, or a vehicle powered by an engine, to stop, especially by supplying it with a poor fuel mixture or by overloading it.

Aeronautics. an instance or the condition of causing an airplane to fly at an angle of attack greater than the angle of maximum lift, causing loss of control and a downward spin. Compare critical angle(def 2).

a protective covering for a finger or toe, as various guards and sheaths or one finger of a glove.

British. a chairlike seat in a theater, separated from others by arms or rails, especially one in the front section of the parquet.

verb (used with object)

to assign to, put, or keep in a stall or stalls, as an animal or a car.

to confine in a stall for fattening, as cattle.

to cause (a motor or the vehicle it powers) to stop, especially by supplying it with a poor fuel mixture or overloading it.

Aeronautics.

to put (an airplane) into a stall.
to lose control of or crash (an airplane) from so doing.

to bring to a standstill; check the progress or motion of, especially unintentionally.

to cause to stick fast, as in mire or snow.

verb (used without object)

(of an engine, car, airplane, etc.) to be stalled or go through the process of stalling (sometimes followed by out).

to come to a standstill; be brought to a stop.

to stick fast, as in mire.

to occupy a stall, as an animal.

Origin of stall

before 900; Middle English; Old English steall; cognate with German Stall, Old Norse stallr; akin to Old English stellan, German stellen to put, place

OTHER WORDS FROM stall

stall-like, adjective

Words nearby stall

stalker, stalking, stalking-horse, stalkless, stalky, stall, stall-fed, stall-feed, stallage, stallholder, stalling angle

Definition for stall (2 of 2)

stall ²

[ stawl ]

/ stɔl /

verb (used without object)

to delay, especially by evasion or deception.

Sports. to prolong holding the ball as a tactic to prevent the opponent from scoring, as when one's team has the lead. Compare freeze(def 31).

verb (used with object)

to delay or put off, especially by evasion or deception (often followed by off): He stalled the police for 15 minutes so his accomplice could get away.

noun

a pretext, as a ruse, trick, or the like, used to delay or deceive.

Underworld Slang. the member of a pickpocket's team who distracts the victim long enough for the theft to take place. Compare wire(def 11).

Sports. slowdown(def 3).

Origin of stall

1490–1500; earlier stale decoy bird (> Anglo-French estale decoy pigeon), Old English stæl- decoy (in stælhrān decoy reindeer); akin to stall¹

Example sentences from the Web for stall

But there are deep suspicions in Kiev that the Russians only went to Geneva to stall threatened Western economic sanctions.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Speaks of Mistrust—and a Truce |Jamie Dettmer |April 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The tactic made sense only as a stall for defendants each facing 20 years or more in prison.

Bernie Madoff’s Five Little Helpers Are Going To Prison. |Allan Dodds Frank |March 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“At a rodeo, in a stall, in a three-way,” says McConaughey with a chuckle.

Matthew McConaughey In ‘Dallas Buyers Club’: From Bongos to Oscar Contender |Marlow Stern |October 30, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
When Somali pirates forced Ricahrd Phillips to give up his crew, he had to stall by any means—or face the death of all his men.

‘You Have 30 Seconds’: The Real Captain Phillips’s Gripping Memoir |Captain Richard Phillips, Stephan Talty |October 11, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

After allowing his lesser-known rapper friend, the shrieking Psycho Egyptian, to stall until he was ready, Blanco takes the stage.

Don’t Call It Gay Rap: Le1f’s Transition From YouTube to the Main Stage |Caitlin Dickson |August 30, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
She sat well forward in her stall, with head thrown back, and eyes fixed upon the stage, in absorbed attention.

Flaming June |Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey
In a minute she is snug in her stall "for'ard," just by the cook's galley.

A Boy's Voyage Round the World |The Son of Samuel Smiles
She is organising a bazaar and asked Lady Jarvis to help at her stall.

Passing By |Maurice Baring
The only person who missed the foal was its mother, who stretched out her neck toward the entrance of the stall and brayed.

Under the Shadow of Etna |Giovanni Verga
A poor widow, in a small town in the north of England, kept a booth or stall of apples and sweetmeats.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction |Various

British Dictionary definitions for stall (1 of 2)

stall ¹

/ (stɔːl) /

noun

a compartment in a stable or shed for confining or feeding a single animal
another name for stable 1 (def. 1)

a small often temporary stand or booth for the display and sale of goods

(in a church)

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
a pen

an instance of an engine stalling

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

any small room or compartment

British

a seat in a theatre or cinema that resembles a chair, usually fixed to the floor
(plural) the area of seats on the ground floor of a theatre or cinema nearest to the stage or screen

a tubelike covering for a finger, as in a glove

(plural) short for starting stalls

set out one's stall British to make the necessary arrangements for the achievement of something and show that one is determined to achieve it

verb

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

to cause (an aircraft) to go into a stall or (of an aircraft) to go into a stall

to stick or cause to stick fast, as in mud or snow

(tr) to confine (an animal) in a stall

Word Origin for stall

Old English steall a place for standing; related to Old High German stall, and stellen to set

British Dictionary definitions for stall (2 of 2)

stall ²

/ (stɔːl) /

verb

to employ delaying tactics towards (someone); be evasive

(intr) sport, mainly US to play or fight below one's best in order to deceive

noun

an evasive move; pretext

Word Origin for stall

C16: from Anglo-French estale bird used as a decoy, influenced by stall 1

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

stall

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of stall

OTHER WORDS FROM stall

Words nearby stall

Definition for stall (2 of 2)

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of stall

Example sentences from the Web for stall

British Dictionary definitions for stall (1 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for stall

British Dictionary definitions for stall (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for stall

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

stall

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of stall

OTHER WORDS FROM stall

Words nearby stall

Definition for stall (2 of 2)

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of stall

Words related to stall

Example sentences from the Web for stall

British Dictionary definitions for stall (1 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for stall

British Dictionary definitions for stall (2 of 2)

verb

noun

Word Origin for stall