halt

¹ American  

[hawlt] / hɔlt /

verb (used without object)

1. to stop; cease moving, operating, etc., either permanently or temporarily.

   They halted for lunch and strolled about.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to stop temporarily or permanently; bring to a stop.

   They halted operations during contract negotiations.

noun

1. a temporary or permanent stop.

   Synonyms:

   stoppage , stoppage , stop , stop , standstill , suspension , suspension , cessation

interjection

1. (used as a command to stop and stand motionless, as to marching troops or to a fleeing suspect.)

halt ² American  

[hawlt] / hɔlt /

verb (used without object)

1. to falter, as in speech, reasoning, etc.; be hesitant; stumble.

2. to be in doubt; waver between alternatives; vacillate.

3. Archaic.  to be lame; walk lamely; limp.

---

adjective

1. Archaic.  lame; limping.

noun

1. Archaic.  lameness; a limp.

2. (used with a plural verb)  lame people, especially severely lamed ones (usually preceded bythe ).

   the halt and the blind.

halt ¹ British  

/ hɔːlt /

verb

1. (esp of logic or verse) to falter or be defective

2. to waver or be unsure

3. archaic  to be lame

---

adjective

1. archaic

   1. lame

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the halt

noun

1. archaic  lameness

halt ² British  

/ hɔːlt /

noun

1. an interruption or end to activity, movement, or progress

2. a minor railway station, without permanent buildings

3. to put an end (to something); stop

---

noun

1. a command to halt, esp as an order when marching

verb

1. to come or bring to a halt

halt Idioms  

1. see call a halt; come to a halt; grind to a halt.

---

Related Words

See stop.

Other Word Forms

• haltless adjective

Etymology

Origin of halt¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from the phrase make halt for German halt machen; hold ¹

Origin of halt²

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English healt; cognate with Old High German halz, Old Norse haltr, Gothic halts, akin to Latin clādēs “damage, loss”

Example Sentences

Back at base camp, the fruits were frozen to halt further ripening.

From Science Daily

Israel and Lebanon agreed in November last year to halt Israel’s war with Hezbollah, with Israel withdrawing in return for Hezbollah disarming.

From The Wall Street Journal

One of Russia's largest oil terminals halted operations on Saturday following a drone attack.

From Barron's

Then, in a flash, Spencer's career came to a halt.

From BBC

Growth in China’s manufacturing production came to a halt as new orders nearly stalled last month despite a renewed rise in new orders from abroad, according to RatingDog.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adjourn
• arrest
• bar
• block
• break off
• cease
• curb
• deter
• end
• hamper
• impede
• interrupt
• stall
• stem
• stop
• suspend
• terminate