stopper

(noun, verb)

noun

1. an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down

Similar word(s): showstopper

Definition categories: communication, act, bit, number, routine, turn

2. a remark to which there is no polite conversational reply

Definition categories: communication, comment, input, remark

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

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

Definition categories: man–made

4. blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly

Similar word(s): plug, stopple

Definition categories: man–made, block, blockage, closure, occlusion, stop, stoppage

Sentences with stopper as a noun:

- Put a stopper in the knot.

- We need a stopper or the boat will sink.

- He's the number one stopper in the country.

- Cattle futures: spillover momentum plus evidence of a strong stopper (i.e., 96 loads demanded) should kick the opening higher.

verb

1. close or secure with or as if with a stopper

- She stoppered the wine bottle

- The mothers stoppered their babies' mouths with pacifiers

Similar word(s): stopple

Definition categories: contact, plug, secure

Sentences with stopper as a verb:

- He tightly stoppered the decanter, thinking the expensive liqueur had been evaporating.

- The diaphragmatic spasm of his hiccup caused his epiglottis to painfully stopper his windpipe with a loud "hic".