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stopped

v. · adj.
US //ˈstɑpt// UK //stˈɒpt// stopped
  1. 1 finished an action (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to have finished doing something or to have come to an end.

    the past tense of 'stop', indicating the cessation of an activity or process.

    Example

    The rain finally stopped after three days of heavy storms.

    Example

    The production line stopped abruptly when a sensor detected a misalignment in the primary assembly arm.
    Pitfall
    He stopped to smoke.
    He stopped smoking.

    Use 'stopped' followed by an -ing verb to mean the habit ended. Using 'to' means he paused his journey in order to smoke.

  2. 2 stayed in a place (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to have stayed somewhere for a short time during a journey.

    the past tense of 'stop', indicating a temporary stay or pause at a location during transit.

    Example

    We stopped at a small café for lunch on our way to the coast.

    Example

    The delegation stopped in Geneva for forty-eight hours to consult with local officials before proceeding to the summit in Brussels.
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  1. 3 not moving (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    not moving or no longer in motion.

    describing a state of arrested motion; often used for vehicles or machinery that have ceased operation.

    Example

    The police officer walked toward the stopped car to check the driver's ID.

    Example

    The investigation focused on the stopped train, attempting to determine why the emergency brakes had engaged without driver intervention.
  2. 4 blocked or closed (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    blocked or filled so that nothing can pass through.

    describing a pipe, passage, or container that is obstructed or closed at one end.

    Example

    The sink was stopped with hair and soap, so the water wouldn't drain.

    Example

    The plumber identified a stopped pipe deep within the building's foundation that was causing the backup in the lower levels above-ground units.
  3. 5 linguistic sounds (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    describing sounds made by completely closing your mouth for a moment.

    referring to a consonant produced by a complete obstruction of the airflow in the vocal tract.

    Example

    The letters 'p' and 'b' are examples of stopped sounds.

    Example

    Phonetic analysis reveals that the speaker frequently omits the final stopped consonant when speaking at a natural conversational pace.

    Usage

    Usually placed before the noun 'consonant' or 'sound'.
    • plosive
    • fricative
Origin

From stop + -ed. In some senses, the adjective follows from the verb; in others, it may derive directly from the noun stop.

Idioms1 entry

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