Library / English Dictionary

STOPPER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly

Synonyms:

plug; stopper; stopple

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("stopper" is a kind of...):

block; blockage; closure; occlusion; stop; stoppage (an obstruction in a pipe or tube)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stopper"):

bung; spile (a plug used to close a hole in a barrel or flask)

bottle cork; cork (the plug in the mouth of a bottle (especially a wine bottle))

drainplug (a removable plug for holding water in a tub or basin)

earplug (a plug of cotton, wax, or rubber that is fitted into the ear canal for protection against the entry of water or loud noise)

fipple (a wooden plug forming a flue pipe (as the mouthpiece of a recorder))

tampion; tompion (plug for the muzzle of a gun to keep out dust and moisture)

tampon (plug of cotton or other absorbent material; inserted into wound or body cavity to absorb exuded fluids (especially blood))

spigot; tap (a plug for a bunghole in a cask)

Derivation:

stop (render unsuitable for passage)

stopper (close or secure with or as if with a stopper)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(bridge) a playing card with a value sufficiently high to insure taking a trick in a particular suit

Example:

if my partner has a spade stopper I can bid no trump

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("stopper" is a kind of...):

playing card (one of a pack of cards that are used to play card games)

Domain category:

bridge (any of various card games based on whist for four players)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A remark to which there is no polite conversational reply

Synonyms:

conversation stopper; stopper

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("stopper" is a kind of...):

comment; input; remark (a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down

Synonyms:

show-stopper; showstopper; stopper

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("stopper" is a kind of...):

act; bit; number; routine; turn (a short performance that is part of a longer program)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Close or secure with or as if with a stopper

Example:

The mothers stoppered their babies' mouths with pacifiers

Synonyms:

stopper; stopple

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "stopper" is one way to...):

plug; secure; stop up (fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

stopper (blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly)

Credits