stop
stop
UK[stɒp]US[stɑːp]
v
to finish doing something that you were doing
v
to prevent someone from doing something or something from happening
n
an act of stopping or the state of being stopped
n
a place where a bus or train regularly stops to let passengers get on and off
Etymology
The verb 'stop' entered Middle English from Old English 'stoppian', which meant 'to block up, close, or plug'. This Old English term was likely borrowed from Vulgar Latin stuppāre, meaning 'to stop up with tow or oakum', derived from Latin 'stuppa' (coarse flax or tow). The Latin 'stuppa' itself originates from Greek 'stýppē'. The core semantic thread from its ancient origins to modern usage is the concept of creating an obstruction or bringing motion to a halt, evolving from the literal act of plugging a hole to the more general senses of ceasing activity or movement.
Analysis
The word 'stop' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It functions as a complete, indivisible root in modern English.
Examples
The rain finally stopped in the afternoon.
A fallen tree stopped traffic on the main road.
Please press the stop button to end the recording.