stopstop1 /stɒpstɑːp/ verb (stopped, stopping) [transitiveT]1to prevent someone from doing something or something from happeningThe government should intervene to stop the takeover.
How can we stop the decline in sales?
stop somebody/something (from) doing somethingThis latest crisis did not stop the Bank of France cutting its key interest rates.
News of the takeover immediately stopped the company’s shares from sliding.
2to no longer continue to do somethingWhat time do you stop work?
Lack of funds forced us to stop production.
stop doing somethingJapan’s four leading brokerages agreed to stop issuing new shares for a month.
You can stop paying premiums at any time.
3stop a cheque British EnglishBrE, stop payment on a check American EnglishAmEBANKING to tell a bank not to pay a cheque you have writtenStaff are failing to charge customers for such services as stopping cheques or returning standing orders unpaid.
4to prevent money from being paid after you agree to pay itstop something from somethingMoney for breakages will be stopped from your wages.