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DictionarystaunchStopping a flow
verb

staunch

stop or check an ongoing flow

The emergency team worked to staunch the bleeding.

Etymology
staunchOld Frenchto stop a flow

The French verb concerns stopping or checking flow. English preserves that action especially for bleeding or other continuing discharges.

More examples

  • The new measures were intended to staunch the loss of funds.
  • She tried to staunch the flow from the leaking pipe.
  • The intervention staunched the steady outflow of customers.

Forms

staunch · staunches · staunched · staunching

Similar words

stem
Stem checks a flow; staunch often suggests stopping it, particularly bleeding.
arrest
Arrest halts progress; staunch specifically evokes an ongoing outflow.