halt

¹

[ hawlt ]

verb (used without object)

1. to stop; cease moving, operating, etc., either permanently or temporarily:

   They halted for lunch and strolled about.

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, stop, standstill, suspension, cessation

interjection

1. (used as a command to stop and stand motionless, as to marching troops or to a fleeing suspect.)

halt

²

[ hawlt ]

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.

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 by the ):

   the halt and the blind.

halt

¹

/ hɔːlt /

noun

1. an interruption or end to activity, movement, or progress
2. a minor railway station, without permanent buildings
3. call a halt
   to put an end (to something); stop

noun

1. a command to halt, esp as an order when marching

verb

1. to come or bring to a halt

halt

²

/ hɔːlt /

verb

1. (esp of logic or verse) to falter or be defective
2. to waver or be unsure
3. archaic.
   to be lame

adjective

1. archaic.
   1. lame
   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the halt

noun

1. archaic.
   lameness

Other Words From

• haltless adjective

Word History and Origins

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of halt¹

C17: from the phrase to make halt, translation of German halt machen, from halten to hold ¹, stop

Origin of halt²

Old English healt lame; related to Old Norse haltr, Old High German halz lame, Greek kólos maimed, Old Slavonic kladivo hammer

Idioms and Phrases

see call a halt ; come to a halt ; grind to a halt .

Synonym Study

See stop.

Example Sentences

A petition that garnered more than 1,800 signatures overnight also sought to halt her deportation.

From Vox

“The FAA should immediately halt the recertification process for the 737 Max in light of this report,” said Michael Stumo, father of Samya Stumo.

From Fortune

If the court were to find against the insurers, they could be forced to re-examine thousands of claims filed by firms holding business interruption and other policies that offered protection against unexpected halts to operations.

From Fortune

The global lockdown halted international travel and cut into luxury sales by extension.

From Fortune

This hovering is more commonly known as “stalling,” and occurs when a hurricane more or less grinds to a halt.

From Popular-Science

On Monday, de Blasio called for a temporary halt to protests until after the funerals of the two slain officers.

From The Daily Beast

Nevetheless, Democratic rule has not only failed to halt the trend, but appears to have accelerated it.

From The Daily Beast

My golden age comes to a halt with the ascendancy of music videos.

From The Daily Beast

With both branches of Congress now under Republican control, we should act to halt those power grabs, too.

From The Daily Beast

The formation of neologisms is a natural process that no amount of outrage can halt.

From The Daily Beast

The general commanded a halt, and ordered the men to refresh and strengthen themselves by food and drink.

From Project Gutenberg

As they were passing a place where the bushes grew thickly by the side of the road, they received a gruff command to halt.

From Project Gutenberg

Here they called a halt for a time, and began to hunt vigorously in all directions, aiming at every species of game.

From Project Gutenberg

Such an admission, coming from her brave lips, warned Frank that he must call a halt regardless of loss of time.

From Project Gutenberg

They come to a halt suddenly, before a little huddling figure, with its face hidden in its arms, crouched beside a crooked rail.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cutoff
• freeze
• interruption
• layoff
• letup
• pause
• postponement
• standstill
• termination