Definition of STALL

stall

Meanings

Plural: stalls

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
  • A compartment for a single animal in a stable or cattle shed.
  • A stable; a place for cattle.
  • A bench or table on which small articles of merchandise are exposed for sale.
  • A small open-fronted shop, for example in a market, food court, etc.
  • A very small room used for a shower or a toilet.
  • A seat in a theatre close to and (about) level with the stage; traditionally, a seat with arms, or otherwise partly enclosed, as distinguished from the benches, sofas, etc.
  • An Heathen altar, typically an indoor one, as contrasted with a more substantial outdoor harrow.
  • A seat in a church, especially one next to the chancel or choir, reserved for church officials and dignitaries.
  • A church office that entitles the incumbent to the use of a church stall.
  • A sheath to protect the finger.
  • The space left by excavation between pillars.
  • A parking stall; a space for a vehicle in a parking lot or parkade.
  • An action that is intended to cause, or actually causes, delay.
  • Loss of lift due to an airfoil's critical angle of attack being exceeded, normally occurring due to low airspeed.

Verb

  • postpone doing what one should be doing
  • 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"
  • To put (an animal, etc.) in a stall.
  • To fatten.
  • To live in, or as if in, a stall; to dwell.
  • To place in an office with the customary formalities; to install.
  • To forestall; to anticipate.
  • To keep close; to keep secret.
  • To employ delaying tactics against.
  • To employ delaying tactics; to stall for time.
  • To come to a standstill.
  • To cause to stop making progress; to hinder; to slow down; to delay or forestall.
  • To exceed the critical angle of attack, resulting in loss of lift.
  • To cause to exceed the critical angle of attack, resulting in loss of lift.
  • To plunge into mire or snow so as not to be able to get on; to set; to fix.
  • To stop suddenly.
  • To cause the engine of a manual-transmission car or truck to stop by going too slowly for the selected gear.
  • To be stuck, as in mire or snow; to stick fast.
  • To be tired of eating, as cattle.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English stall, stalle, from Old English steall (“standing place, position”), from Proto-Germanic *stallaz, from Proto-Indo-European *stel- (“to place, put, post, stand”). Cognate with French étal, Italian stallo, German Stall, Swedish stall.

Synonyms

bay, boose, booth, carrel, carrell, conk, cubicle, delay, dilly-dally, dillydally, drag one's feet, drag one's heels, kiosk, penelopize, postpone, procrastinate, put off, sales booth, shillyshally, space, spot, stalling, stand

Scrabble Score: 5

stall is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
stall is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
stall is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 7

stall is a valid Words With Friends word