stalemate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible
    dead end; impasse; deadlock; standstill.
    • reached an impasse on the negotiations
  2. noun drawing position in chess: any of a player's possible moves would place his king in check
  3. verb subject to a stalemate

WordNet


Stale"mate` noun
Definitions
  1. (Chess) The position of the king when he can not move without being placed on check and there is no other piece which can be moved.
Stale"mate` transitive verb
Definitions
  1. (Chess) To subject to a stalemate; hence, to bring to a stand.

Webster 1913