1. (v. t.) To stop the flowing of, as blood; to check; also, to stop the flowing of blood from; as, to stanch a wound.

2. (v. t.) To extinguish; to quench, as fire or thirst.

3. (v. i.) To cease, as the flowing of blood.

4. (n.) That which stanches or checks.

5. (n.) A flood gate by which water is accumulated, for floating a boat over a shallow part of a stream by its release.

6. (v. t.) Strong and tight; sound; firm; as, a stanch ship.

7. (v. t.) Firm in principle; constant and zealous; loyal; hearty; steady; steadfast; as, a stanch churchman; a stanch friend or adherent.

8. (v. t.) Close; secret; private.

9. (v. t.) To prop; to make stanch, or strong.

arrest asphyxiate bar bind block block up blockade bottle up bung caulk cease censor check chink choke choke off choke up clamp down on clog clog up congest constipate cork cork up cover crack down on crush dam dam up damp down drown end extinguish fill fill up foul gag halt hold down jam jump on keep down keep under kill muzzle obstipate obstruct pack plug plug up pour water on prevent put down quash quell quench repress shut down on silence sit down on sit on smash smother spile squash squelch staunch stay stem stench stifle stop stop up stopper stopple strangle stuff stuff up stultify subdue suffocate suppress throttle