stop motion

American  

noun

Movies.

1. Also called stop frame.  the process of filming puppets and other objects one frame at a time while incrementally moving or modifying them, giving the illusion of lifelike motion when the captured film frames are viewed in rapid sequence (often used attributively): a stop-motion film.

   stop-motion animation;

   a stop-motion film.

2. Also called stop action.  a special effect in cinematography, carried out while shooting, in which the performers stop their motion and the camera is stopped while an object or performer is added to or removed from the scene, with camera movement and action then resumed for the remainder of the scene: used to create an illusion of sudden appearance or disappearance of persons or objects (often used attributively).

3. freeze frame.

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stop-motion British  

noun

1. 1. a technique used in animation and photography in which a subject is filmed then adjusted a frame at a time

   2. ( as modifier )

      stop-motion animation

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Example Sentences

The breakup of a plate doesn't just stop motion -- it reshapes the planet.

From Science Daily • Oct. 25, 2025

That appreciation for the craft of stop motion, inevitably susceptible to human excellence and error, propelled Gustafson throughout his career.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2024

Rebecca Atkinson is hoping her stop motion creation, Mixmups, is going to be just that.

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2023

“Anytime you’re doing something like that, which was unknown: stop motion, the main character doesn’t have any eyeballs and it’s all music, what’s to feel comfortable about?”

From New York Times • Oct. 25, 2023

Operating procedure when a storm hits is to stop motion and wait for the storm to pass.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir