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Definition of stall verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stall

verb
 
/stɔːl/
 
/stɔːl/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they stall
 
/stɔːl/
 
/stɔːl/
he / she / it stalls
 
/stɔːlz/
 
/stɔːlz/
past simple stalled
 
/stɔːld/
 
/stɔːld/
past participle stalled
 
/stɔːld/
 
/stɔːld/
-ing form stalling
 
/ˈstɔːlɪŋ/
 
/ˈstɔːlɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive, transitive] (of a vehicle or an engine) to stop suddenly because of a lack of power or speed; to make a vehicle or an engine do this
    • The car stalled and refused to start again.
    • I kept stalling.
    • stall something I stalled the car three times during my driving test.
    Topics Transport by car or lorryc2
  2. [intransitive] stall (on/over something) to try to avoid doing something or answering a question so that you have more time
    • They are still stalling on the deal.
    • ‘What do you mean?’ she asked, stalling for time.
    • The opposition party was angered by the Prime Minister’s stalling tactics.
    • He asked them all kinds of pointless questions, stalling for time.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • effectively
    phrases
    • be currently stalled
    • be temporarily stalled
    • stall for time
    See full entry
  3. [transitive] stall somebody to make somebody wait so that you have more time to do something
    • See if you can stall her while I finish searching her office.
  4. [transitive, intransitive] stall (something) to stop something from happening until a later date; to stop making progress
    • There have been several attempts to revive the stalled peace plan.
    • Discussions have once again stalled.
    Extra Examples
    • Discussions were effectively stalled by the union's refusal to participate.
    • The peace process is currently stalled.
    • They could stall the process further by asking for a judicial review.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • effectively
    phrases
    • be currently stalled
    • be temporarily stalled
    • stall for time
    See full entry
  5. Word OriginOld English steall ‘stable or cattle shed’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stal, also to stand. Early senses of the verb included ‘reside, dwell’ and ‘bring to a halt’.
See stall in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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