halt

1
[ hawlt ]
See synonyms for: halthaltedhalterhaltest on Thesaurus.com

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.

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

Origin of halt

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from the phrase make halt for German halt machen;see hold1

synonym study For halt

2. See stop.

Other words for halt

Words Nearby halt

Other definitions for halt (2 of 2)

halt2
[ hawlt ]

verb (used without object)
  1. to falter, as in speech, reasoning, etc.; be hesitant; stumble.

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

  1. 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 by the): the halt and the blind.

Origin of halt

2
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”

Other words from halt

  • haltless, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use halt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for halt (1 of 2)

halt1

/ (hɔːlt) /


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

  2. mainly British a minor railway station, without permanent buildings

  1. call a halt to put an end (to something); stop

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

verb
  1. to come or bring to a halt

Origin of halt

1
C17: from the phrase to make halt, translation of German halt machen, from halten to hold 1, stop

British Dictionary definitions for halt (2 of 2)

halt2

/ (hɔːlt) /


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

  2. to waver or be unsure

  1. archaic to be lame

adjective
  1. archaic

    • lame

    • (as collective noun; preceded by the): the halt

noun
  1. archaic lameness

Origin of halt

2
Old English healt lame; related to Old Norse haltr, Old High German halz lame, Greek kólos maimed, Old Slavonic kladivo hammer

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with halt

halt

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.