Definition

1. Noun:

   • A tactic used to mislead or delay: A deceptive action or strategy intended to create a delay or obstruction.
   • A small individual study area in a library: A partially enclosed desk or cubicle for private study.
   • Seating in the forward part of the main level of a theater: A seat located in the front section of the ground floor.
   • A malfunction in the flight of an aircraft: A condition where an aircraft loses lift due to an excessive angle of attack, causing it to drop.
   • A booth where articles are displayed for sale: A small, open-fronted structure in a market or fair for selling goods.
   • A small area set off by walls for special use: A compartment or cubicle, often for a specific function like a shower.
   • A compartment in a stable where a single animal is confined and fed: An individual enclosure for a horse or other animal.

2. Verb:

   • To cause an engine to stop: To make an engine, especially in a vehicle, stop running, often due to improper gear use or fuel flow.
   • To cause an airplane to go into a stall: To put an aircraft into a condition of aerodynamic stall.
   • To experience a stall in flight: (Of an aircraft) to enter a stall.
   • To put into, or keep in, a stall: To place or confine an animal in its stall.
   • To deliberately delay an event or action: To intentionally avoid doing something or to cause a process to slow down.
   • To come to a stop: (Of an engine or vehicle) to stop running unexpectedly.
   • To postpone doing what one should be doing: To delay or put off an action, often through indecision or avoidance.

Examples

• Noun:

  • His offer to negotiate was just a stall to buy more time. (The tactic meaning)
  • She reserved a quiet stall in the library to finish her thesis. (The study area meaning)
  • We have great seats in the stall for the opera tonight. (The theater seating meaning)
  • The pilot recovered the plane from a dangerous stall. (The aviation malfunction meaning)
  • I bought this handmade soap from a market stall. (The sales booth meaning)
  • The bathroom has a separate shower stall. (The compartment meaning)
  • The horse is resting in its stall. (The stable compartment meaning)

• Verb:

  • I keep stalling the car because I'm not used to the clutch. (Cause engine to stop)
  • Pulling the nose up too sharply can stall a small aircraft. (Cause airplane to stall)
  • The engine stalled on the steep hill. (Come to a stop)
  • Please stall the horses for the night. (Put into a stall)
  • He tried to stall the meeting by asking irrelevant questions. (Deliberately delay)
  • Stop stalling and answer the question directly. (Postpone doing)

Advanced Usage

• "To stall for time": To deliberately cause a delay, typically to gain more time to think or prepare.
  • She asked a complicated question just to stall for time while she gathered her thoughts.

Variants and Related Words

• Stalling (n/gerund): The act of causing a delay or the condition of an engine stopping.
  • Constant stalling of the negotiations frustrated everyone.
• Stallholder (n): A person who owns or runs a market stall.
  • The stallholder was very knowledgeable about her spices.

Synonyms

• Noun (Delay tactic): Delay, obstruction, pretext, ruse.
• Noun (Booth): Stand, kiosk, counter.
• Noun (Stable compartment): Pen, cubicle, enclosure.
• Verb (Delay): Delay, procrastinate, temporize, drag one's feet.
• Verb (Stop engine): Conk out, die, cut out.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Stall off: To delay or keep someone at bay, especially by using excuses.
  • He managed to stall off his creditors for another month.

Related Idioms

• (To be) in a stall: (Of an aircraft) to be in a state of aerodynamic stall.
  • The training teaches pilots how to recover when the plane is in a stall.
• A stall tactic: A specific action taken to cause intentional delay.
  • Filing for an extension was merely a stall tactic.

Noun

1. a tactic used to mislead or delay
2. small individual study area in a library
3. seating in the forward part of the main level of a theater
4. a malfunction in the flight of an aircraft in which there is a sudden loss of lift that results in a downward plunge
   • the plane went into a stall and I couldn't control it
5. a booth where articles are displayed for sale
6. small area set off by walls for special use
7. a compartment in a stable where a single animal is confined and fed

Verb

1. cause an engine to stop
   • The inexperienced driver kept stalling the car
2. cause an airplane to go into a stall
3. experience a stall in flight, of airplanes
4. put into, or keep in, a stall
   • Stall the horse
5. deliberately delay an event or action
   • she doesn't want to write the report, so she is stalling
6. come to a stop
   • The car stalled in the driveway
7. postpone doing what one should be doing
   • He did not want to write the letter and procrastinated for days