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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

Owen, who represents Luton North, said two men had been arrested, and the third incident caused a surgery to be halted.

From BBC

Global oil prices have skyrocketed since supply via the waterway came to a near-total halt, with fears there could be a knock-on effect on the price of food, medicine and other goods if left unresolved.

From BBC

Aside from the monetary penalty, the settlement requires Justin and Wonderful to halt any harassment or retaliation, undergo compliance audits and take other measures at the vineyard operations.

From Los Angeles Times

In recent years, several demonstrations have expanded onto adjacent freeways, grinding traffic to a halt.

From Los Angeles Times

Failure to qualify is not expected to halt plans, with qualification said to be a bonus rather than something banked on.

From BBC

Related Words

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