halt

4 definitions • 12 examples

to (cause to) stop moving or doing something or happening:

"Halt!" called the guard. "You can't go any further without a permit."

Production has halted at all of the company's factories because of the pay dispute.

Security forces halted the demonstrators by blocking the road.

an occasion when something stops moving or happening:

halt in the recent halt in production

bring something to a halt Severe flooding has brought trains to a halt (= prevented them from moving) on several lines in Scotland.

come to a halt The bus came to a halt (= stopped) just in time to avoid hitting the wall.

grind to a halt If traffic increases beyond a certain level, the city grinds to a halt (= stops completely).

screech to a halt The car screeched to a halt (= stopped suddenly and noisily) just as the lights turned red.

to prevent something from continuing:

How many more people will have to die before they call a halt to the fighting?

to stop something, or to bring something to a stop:

[ I ] "Halt!" ordered the guard.

[ T ] Congress voted additional funds in an effort to halt the spread of the disease.

[ T ] Nationwide, mail delivery was halted by the strike.