stall

/stˈɔl/ · 1 syllable

Meaning

noun

a compartment in a stable where a single animal is confined and fed
small area set off by walls for special use
a booth where articles are displayed for sale
a malfunction in the flight of an aircraft in which there is a sudden loss of lift that results in a downward plunge
“the plane went into a stall and I couldn't control it”
seating in the forward part of the main level of a theater
small individual study area in a library
a tactic used to mislead or delay

verb

postpone doing what one should be doing
“He did not want to write the letter and procrastinated for days”
come to a stop
“The car stalled in the driveway”
deliberately delay an event or action
“she doesn't want to write the report, so she is stalling”
put into, or keep in, a stall
“Stall the horse”
experience a stall in flight, of airplanes
cause an airplane to go into a stall
cause an engine to stop
“The inexperienced driver kept stalling the car”

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