shutoff

or shut-off

[ shuht-awf, -of ]

/ ˈʃʌtˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

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See synonyms for shutoff on Thesaurus.com

noun

an object or device that shuts (something) off: the automatic shutoff on a heater.

an act or instance of shutting off something, as an opening, a flow, or a service: a shutoff of electric power due to unpaid bills.

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SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

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shall

should

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Origin of shutoff

First recorded in 1865–70; noun use of verb phrase shut off

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use shutoff in a sentence

Although the blood-spattered offices will be off-limits, staff have vowed to continue producing the magazine.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A passing off-duty school safety officer named Fred Lucas said that he had been told the man was a drug dealer.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The NOPD fired Knight in 1973 for stealing lumber from a construction site as an off-duty cop.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The off-year special election into which Duke threw himself drew little media notice at first.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Aaron Paul may play a young Han Solo in the first Star Wars spin-off.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones)|Rich Goldstein|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Another crash, which nearly shut up his spine like a telescope, told him that there were no wings.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
A far-off volley rumbled over the plain, and a few birds stirred uneasily among the trees.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
After his death crowds flocked to his grave to touch his holy monument, till the authorities caused the church yard to be shut.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The gnarled hands shut up into clenched fists, and the feeble voice trailed off in an agonized moan.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
He shut his fist and hit Butterface a weak but well intended right-hander on the nose.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for shutoff

shut-off

noun

a device that shuts something off, esp a machine control

a stoppage or cessation

verb shut off (tr, adverb)

to stem the flow of

to block off the passage through

to isolate or separate

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 shutoff

shut off

Stop the flow or passage of, as in They shut off the water while repairs were being made. [Early 1800s]

Close off, isolate, as in Loners shut themselves off from the community. [First half of 1800s]