What is stall? Pronunciation and usage in English

stall means . Learn how to pronounce and use stall through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of stall

stallnoun

/stɔːl//stɔːl/
Definition & pronunciation of stall

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "stall" in English. There are a couple of common pronunciations, and it depends on where you are (regional accents!). Here's a breakdown:

1. The Most Common American Pronunciation:

  • ˈstɔːl (This is the way it’s most frequently pronounced in the United States)
    • ˈst - Say the "st" like in "stop". It's a short, quick sound.
    • ɔː - This is the trickiest part. It's a rounded "aw" sound, like in "law" or "caught." Think of pulling your lips back slightly as you say it. It's a longer vowel sound than the "a" in "cat."
    • l - Just pronounce the "l" as you normally would.

2. The British Pronunciation:

  • stɔːl (Similar to the American one, but with a slightly different vowel)
    • stɔː – The vowel here is closer to the sound in "talk" than the "aw" sound in the American pronunciation. It's still a broad "o" sound.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

Tips for Getting it Right:

  • Focus on the "ɔː" sound: This is the key difference between the American and British pronunciations. Practice saying "law" and "caught" repeatedly to get the feel of that vowel sound.
  • Don't over-emphasize the "st": It’s a quick, quiet sound.

To help me tailor the explanation a bit more, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located (generally)? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) Knowing your region can help me pinpoint the most likely pronunciation you'll hear.

Usage and examples with the word stall in English

Let's break down how to use the word "stall" in English. It has several different meanings, so it's important to understand the context! Here's a breakdown by category:

1. As a Place (Most Common)

  • Definition: A stall is a small platform or stand, often found in markets, fairs, or train stations, where goods are sold.
  • Examples:
    • “We walked past the fruit stall at the farmer's market.”
    • “She was selling handmade jewelry at a stall in the town square.”
    • “The butcher’s stall smelled amazing!”

2. To Delay or Postpone (Verb – Most Common Usage)

  • Definition: To delay something, especially an action or event, usually in order to gain time or avoid something unpleasant. This is probably the most frequently used meaning.
  • Examples:
    • “He tried to stall for time while he figured out a solution.” (Delaying to think)
    • “The sales team is stalling on the presentation until they have more data.” (Postponing)
    • “Don’t stall! Just tell me what happened.” (Delaying answering)
    • "The government is stalling on addressing the climate crisis." (Avoiding action)

3. To Stop or Halt (Verb – Less Common)

  • Definition: To stop something, often by force or obstruction.
  • Examples:
    • “The police stalled the demonstration.” (Stopped it with force)
    • "The engine stalled." (Stopped working)

4. "Stall" as a Person (Figurative - Less Common)

  • Definition: A person who tries to delay or avoid something, often seen as evasive or manipulative. This usage is more informal.
  • Examples:
    • “He’s just a stall – he never actually follows through on his promises.” (Meaning he avoids action)
    • “Don’t be a stall! Just decide!” (Meaning don’t delay making a decision)

5. “Stall” as a Part of a Horse (Specific)

  • Definition: The part of a horse's leg just behind the knee.
  • Example: “He carefully examined the horse’s stall.”

Key Phrases & Related Words:

  • Stall for time: To delay something in order to gain more time.
  • Stall tactics: Methods used to delay or avoid a decision or action.
  • Stalling behavior: Actions that show a tendency to delay.
  • To put on the brakes: (Idiom) – Similar to stalling; to slow down or prevent something from progressing.

How to Choose the Right Meaning:

  • Context is crucial! Look at the surrounding words and sentences to understand what "stall" refers to.
  • Consider the verb or noun form: Is it being used as a place or as an action?

Resources for More Information:

Would you like me to:

  • Give you more examples of a specific usage?
  • Help you practice using "stall" in a sentence?

Synonyms for the word stall

Practice with vocabulary stall

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Due to the unexpected technical challenges, the launch of the new software began to ______.
  2. The old diesel engine would often ______ when idling for too long at traffic lights, requiring a manual restart.
  3. The company decided to ______ the announcement of the quarterly results until the internal investigation was complete.
  4. Heavy snowfall and icy roads will likely ______ the delivery of essential supplies to remote areas.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (multiple answers may be correct)

  1. After weeks of unproductive discussions, the peace talks began to ______. A) accelerate B) progress C) stall D) advance E) falter

  2. To avoid immediate confrontation, the spokesperson chose to ______ the difficult question by giving a vague response. A) address B) answer C) evade D) confront E) sidestep

  3. Excessive layers of bureaucracy often ______ critical decision-making processes in large organizations. A) streamline B) expedite C) facilitate D) impede E) stall

  4. Pilots are trained to recover an aircraft if it starts to ______ during flight, which occurs when there isn't enough airflow over the wings. A) ascend B) descend C) stall D) cruise E) accelerate

  5. The new security protocols are designed to ______ unauthorized access to sensitive company data. A) permit B) allow C) prevent D) enable E) restrict

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Due to the lack of consensus, the legislation's progress came to a halt in the parliament. (Rewrite using a form of "stall")

  2. Instead of making a firm commitment, the manager kept delaying giving a definitive answer about the budget approval. (Rewrite using a form of "stall")

  3. The unexpected technical glitch caused the entire system to stop functioning for several hours. (Rewrite using a suitable replacement word, not "stall")

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. stall
  2. stall
  3. postpone (or defer)
  4. impede (or hinder)

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. C) stall, E) falter
  2. C) evade, E) sidestep
  3. D) impede, E) stall
  4. C) stall
  5. C) prevent, E) restrict

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Due to the lack of consensus, the legislation's progress stalled in the parliament.
  2. Instead of making a firm commitment, the manager continued to stall on giving a definitive answer about the budget approval.
  3. The unexpected technical glitch caused the entire system to halt for several hours.

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