What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Stop vs Ease - What's the difference?

stop | ease | Related terms |

In intransitive terms the difference between stop and ease

is that stop is to tarry while ease is to proceed with little effort.

In transitive terms the difference between stop and ease

is that stop is to close or block an opening while ease is to move (something) slowly and carefully.

As an adverb stop

is prone to halting or hesitation.

As an interjection stop

is halt! stop.

stop

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), (m), from (etyl) . More at stuff, stump. Alternate etymology derives Proto-Germanic *stupp?n? from an assumed . This derivation, however, is doubtful, as the earliest instances of the Germanic verb do not carry the meaning of "stuff, stop with tow". Rather, these senses developed later in response to influence from similar sounding words in Latin and RomanceThe Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia, "stop"..

Verb

(stopp)
  • (label) To cease moving.
  • * , chapter=5
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.}}
  • (label) To come to an end.
  • (label) To cause (something) to cease moving or progressing.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838
  • , page=13 (Technology Quarterly), magazine=(The Economist) , title= Ideas coming down the track , passage=A “moving platform” scheme
  • (label) To cause (something) to come to an end.
  • (label) To close or block an opening.
  • To adjust the aperture of a camera lens.
  • (label) To stay; to spend a short time; to reside temporarily.
  • * R. D. Blackmore
  • * 1931 , , Mapp & Lucia , chapter 7
  • (label) To tarry.
  • (label) To regulate the sounds of (musical strings, etc.) by pressing them against the fingerboard with the finger, or otherwise shortening the vibrating part.
  • (label) To punctuate.
  • * Landor
  • (label) To make fast; to stopper.
  • Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing)'' or the ''to infinitive. See for more information.
    Synonyms
    * (to cease moving) brake, desist, halt * (to come to an end) blin, cease, desist, discontinue, halt, terminate * (to cause to cease moving) cancel, cease, discontinue, halt, terminate * (to cause to come to an end) blin, cancel, cease, discontinue, halt, terminate
    Antonyms
    * (to cease moving) continue, go, move, proceed * (to come to an end) continue, proceed * (to cause to cease moving) continue, move * (to cause to come to an end) continue, move
    Derived terms
    * stop-and-search / stop-and-frisk * stop by * stopcock * stop down * stop in * stop off * stop out * stop over * stop up * stopwatch * the buck stops here

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A (usually marked) place where line buses, trams or trains halt to let passengers get on and off, usually smaller than a station.
  • An action of stopping; interruption of travel.
  • * De Foe
  • * Sir Isaac Newton
  • * John Locke
  • A device intended to block the path of a moving object; as, a door stop.
  • (label) A consonant sound in which the passage of air through the mouth is temporarily blocked by the lips, tongue, or glottis; a plosive.
  • A symbol used for purposes of punctuation and representing a pause or separating clauses, particularly a full stop, comma, colon or semicolon.
  • That which stops, impedes, or obstructs; an obstacle; an impediment.
  • * Daniel
  • * Rogers
  • A function that halts playback or recording in devices such as videocassette and DVD player.
  • (label) A button that activates the stop function.
  • (label) A knob or pin used to regulate the flow of air in an organ.
  • (label) A very short shot which touches the ground close behind the net and is intended to bounce as little as possible.
  • (label) The depression in a dog’s face between the skull and the nasal bones.
  • (label) An f-stop.
  • (label) A device, or piece, as a pin, block, pawl, etc., for arresting or limiting motion, or for determining the position to which another part shall be brought.
  • (label) A member, plain or moulded, formed of a separate piece and fixed to a jamb, against which a door or window shuts.
  • The diaphragm used in optical instruments to cut off the marginal portions of a beam of light passing through lenses.
  • Synonyms
    * (place for vehicles to load and unload passengers) halt, station * (consonant sound where air is blocked) plosive, occlusive
    Derived terms
    * bus stop * truck stop
    References

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Prone to halting or hesitation.
  • Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • halt! stop!
  • Punctuation

    (en-punctuation mark)
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) . See stoup.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small well-bucket; a milk-pail.
  • Statistics

    *

    ease

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • The state of being comfortable or free from stress.
  • She enjoyed the ease of living in a house where the servants did all the work.
  • Freedom from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
  • ''His mind was at ease when he received his pension.
  • Freedom from effort, difficulty or hardship.
  • He passed all the exams with ease .
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=November 11 , author=Rory Houston , title=Estonia 0-4 Republic of Ireland , work=RTE Sport citation , page= , passage=Walters tried a long range shot in the third minute as he opened the game sharply, linking well with Robbie Keane, but goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko gathered the ball with ease .}}
  • Dexterity or facility.
  • He played the organ with ease .
  • Affluence and freedom from financial problems.
  • After winning the jackpot, she lived a life of luxurious ease .
  • Relaxation, rest and leisure.
  • We took our ease on the patio.
  • (clothing) Additional space to allow movement within a garment.
  • to add ease to a waist measurement

    Synonyms

    * (state of being comfortable or free from stress) comfort, peace * peace of mind * (dexterity or facility) dexterity, facility, skill * free time, leisure, relaxation, rest

    Derived terms

    * chapel of ease * at ease * ease of use

    References

    Verb

    (eas)
  • To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
  • He eased his conscience by confessing.
  • * '>citation
  • Elyse Saugstad, a professional skier, wore a backpack equipped with an air bag, a relatively new and expensive part of the arsenal that backcountry users increasingly carry to ease their minds and increase survival odds in case of an avalanche.
  • To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain).
  • ''He loosened his shoe to ease the pain.
  • To give respite to (someone).
  • The provision of extra staff eased their workload.
  • To loosen or slacken the tension on (something).
  • We eased the rope, then lowered the sail.
  • To reduce the difficulty of (something).
  • We had to ease the entry requirements.
  • To move (something) slowly and carefully.
  • He eased the cork from the bottle.
  • To lessen in severity.
  • The pain eased overnight.
  • To proceed with little effort.
  • The car eased onto the motorway.

    Synonyms

    * assuage, salve * alleviate, assuage, lessen, reduce * give someone a break (informal), lay off (informal) * loosen, relax, slacken * simplify * (lessen in severity) lessen, reduce * (proceed with little effort) cruise