halt Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the state of inactivity following an interruption
    stoppage; stop; hitch; arrest; stay; check.
    • the negotiations were in arrest
    • held them in check
    • during the halt he got some lunch
    • the momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow
    • he spent the entire stop in his seat
  2. noun the event of something ending
    stop.
    • it came to a stop at the bottom of the hill
  3. noun an interruption or temporary suspension of progress or movement
    freeze.
    • a halt in the arms race
    • a nuclear freeze
  4. verb cause to stop
    arrest; hold.
    • Halt the engines
    • Arrest the progress
    • halt the presses
  5. verb come to a halt, stop moving
    stop.
    • the car stopped
    • She stopped in front of a store window
  6. verb stop from happening or developing
    kibosh; stop; block.
    • Block his election
    • Halt the process
  7. verb stop the flow of a liquid
    staunch; stanch; stem.
    • staunch the blood flow
    • stem the tide
  8. adjective satellite disabled in the feet or legs
    lame; gimpy; halting; game; crippled.
    • a crippled soldier
    • a game leg

WordNet

Halt
Definitions
  1. 3d pers. sing. pres. of Hold, contraction for holdeth. Obs. Chaucer.
Halt noun
Etymology
Formerly alt, It. alto, G. halt, fr. halten to hold. See Hold.
Definitions
  1. A stop in marching or walking, or in any action; arrest of progress.
    Without any halt they marched. Clarendon.
    [Lovers] soon in passion's war contest, Yet in their march soon make a halt. Davenant.
Halt intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Halted; present participle & verbal noun Halting
Definitions
  1. To hold one's self from proceeding; to hold up; to cease progress; to stop for a longer or shorter period; to come to a stop; to stand still.
  2. To stand in doubt whether to proceed, or what to do; to hsitate; to be uncertain.
    How long halt ye between two opinions? 1 Kings xviii. 21
Halt transitive verb
Definitions
  1. (Mil.) To cause to cease marching; to stop; as, the general halted his troops for refreshment.
Halt adjective
Etymology
AS. healt; akin to OS., Dan., & Sw. halt, Icel. haltr, halltr, Goth. halts, OHG. halz.
Definitions
  1. Halting or stopping in walking; lame.
    Bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. Luke xiv. 21.
Halt noun
Definitions
  1. The act of limping; lameness.
Halt intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. halten, AS. healtian. See Halt, a.
Definitions
  1. To walk lamely; to limp.
  2. To have an irregular rhythm; to be defective.
    The blank verse shall halt for it. Shak.

Webster 1913