1 N‑COUNT If you describe a person or thing as a stalking horse , you mean that it is being used to obtain a temporary advantage so that someone can get what they really want. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I think the development is a stalking horse for exploitation of the surrounding countryside.
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] In politics, a stalking horse is someone who stands against a leader in order to see how strong the opposition is. The stalking horse then withdraws in favour of a stronger challenger. □ The possibility of another stalking horse challenge this autumn cannot be ruled out.
stall /stɔː l/ (stalls , stalling , stalled )
1 VERB If a process stalls , or if someone or something stalls it, the process stops but may continue at a later time. □ [V n] They will try to stall the bill until the current session ends. □ [V ] …but the peace process stalled. □ [V -ed] Negotiations remained stalled yesterday in New York.
2 VERB If you stall , you try to avoid doing something until later. □ [V ] Some parties have accused the governor of stalling. □ [V + over/on ] Thomas had spent all week stalling over his decision.
3 VERB If you stall someone, you prevent them from doing something until a later time. □ [V n] Shop manager Brian Steel stalled the man until the police arrived.
4 VERB If a vehicle stalls or if you accidentally stall it, the engine stops suddenly. □ [V ] The engine stalled. □ [V n] Your foot falls off the pedal and you stall the car.
5 N‑COUNT A stall is a large table on which you put goods that you want to sell, or information that you want to give people. □ …market stalls selling local fruits.
6 N‑PLURAL The stalls in a theatre or concert hall are the seats on the ground floor directly in front of the stage. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use orchestra 7 N‑COUNT A stall is a small enclosed area in a room which is used for a particular purpose, for example a shower. [AM ] in BRIT, usually use cubicle
stall|holder /stɔː lhoʊldə r / (stallholders ) N‑COUNT A stallholder is a person who sells goods at a stall in a market.
stal|lion /stæ liən/ (stallions ) N‑COUNT A stallion is a male horse, especially one kept for breeding.
stal|wart /stɔː lwə r t/ (stalwarts )
1 N‑COUNT A stalwart is a loyal worker or supporter of an organization, especially a political party. □ His free-trade policies aroused suspicion among Tory stalwarts.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A stalwart supporter or worker is loyal, steady, and completely reliable. □ …a stalwart supporter of the colonial government.
sta|men /ste I men/ (stamens ) N‑COUNT The stamens of a flower are the small, delicate stalks which grow at the flower's centre and produce pollen. [TECHNICAL ]
stami|na /stæ m I nə/ N‑UNCOUNT Stamina is the physical or mental energy needed to do a tiring activity for a long time. □ You have to have a lot of stamina to be a top-class dancer.
stam|mer /stæ mə r / (stammers , stammering , stammered )
1 VERB If you stammer , you speak with difficulty, hesitating and repeating words or sounds. □ [V ] Five per cent of children stammer at some point. □ [V with quote] 'Forgive me,' I stammered. □ [V n] People cursed and stammered apologies. ● stam|mer|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ Of all speech impediments stammering is probably the most embarrassing.
2 N‑SING Someone who has a stammer tends to stammer when they speak. □ A speech-therapist cured his stammer.
stamp ◆◇◇ /stæ mp/ (stamps , stamping , stamped )
1 N‑COUNT A stamp or a postage stamp is a small piece of paper which you stick on an envelope or package before you post it to pay for the cost of the postage. □ …a book of stamps. □ …two first class stamps.
2 → see also food stamp
3 N‑COUNT A stamp is a small block of wood or metal which has a pattern or a group of letters on one side. You press it onto an pad of ink and then onto a piece of paper in order to produce a mark on the paper. The mark that you produce is also called a stamp . □ …a date stamp and an ink pad. □ You may live only where the stamp in your passport says you may.
4 VERB If you stamp a mark or word on an object, you press the mark or word onto the object using a stamp or other device. □ [V n prep] Car manufacturers stamp a vehicle identification number in several places. □ [be V -ed prep] 'Eat before JULY 14' was stamped on the label.
5 VERB If you stamp or stamp your foot , you lift your foot and put it down very hard on the ground, for example because you are angry or because your feet are cold. □ [V ] Often he teased me till my temper went and I stamped and screamed. □ [V adv/prep] His foot stamped down on the accelerator. □ [V n prep/adv] She stamped her feet on the pavement to keep out the cold. [Also V n] ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Stamp is also a noun. □ …hearing the creak of a door and the stamp of cold feet.
6 VERB If you stamp somewhere, you walk there putting your feet down very hard on the ground because you are angry. □ [V prep/adv] 'I'm going before things get any worse!' he shouted as he stamped out of the bedroom.
7 VERB If you stamp on something, you put your foot down on it very hard. □ [V + on ] He received the original ban last week after stamping on the referee's foot during the supercup final.
8 N‑SING If something bears the stamp of a particular quality or person, it clearly has that quality or was done by that person. □ [+ of ] Most of us want to put the stamp of our personality on our home.