halt

¹

[hawlt]

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

[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.

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

/ 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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• haltless adjective

Word History and Origins

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of halt¹

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

Origin of halt²

C17: from the phrase to make halt, translation of German halt machen, from halten to _hold ¹ , _stop

Idioms and Phrases

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

Synonym Study

See stop.

Example Sentences

Lecornu's resignation on Monday halted the planned timetable for a referendum followed by provincial elections next year.

From BBC

The Chargers, who play Sunday at Miami, are looking to halt a two-game losing slide.

From Los Angeles Times

That will depress spending - and also have wider ramifications, as environmental permitting, patent approvals, payments to contractors and other kinds of government activity tied to business comes to a halt.

From BBC

Asahi said the production systems at the factories themselves had not been affected by the cyber-attack, but it had been forced to halt production because it could not process orders and shipments.

From BBC

However, within days, it had halted all online shopping – which normally makes up around a third of its business.

From BBC

Related Words

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