noun
stall
stawl
noun
1
A small stand or booth where goods are sold, as in a market.
"She bought fresh strawberries from a stall at the farmers' market."
2
A compartment for one animal in a stable or barn.
"The horse was led back to its stall after the ride."
3
The loss of lift in an aircraft when its angle of attack becomes too steep for the airspeed.
"The pilot recovered quickly from the stall."
verb
1
To stop making progress, often unintentionally; to come to a standstill.
"The car stalled at the traffic lights."
"Negotiations stalled after both sides refused to budge."
2
To use delaying tactics to put something off.
"He kept stalling instead of giving a straight answer."
How to Use Stall
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA market booth or animal pen, or — as a verb — to stop working (like an engine) or to deliberately delay.
Common pairings
market stall
stall for time
engine stalls
stall tactics
Word Forms
stalled past tense, stalled past tense, stalls plural, stalls plural, stalls singular, stalls singular
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She bought fresh strawberries from a _____ at the farmers' market.
Etymology
From Old English steall, meaning "standing place" or "position," related to German Stall.