Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

stope

[stoʊp]

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.46 in modern English

Syllables: stope
IPA: [stoʊp]

7

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A mining excavation in the form of a terrace of steps.

verb

To excavate in the form of stopes.

verb

To fill in with rubbish, as a space from which the ore has been worked out.

verb

simple past of step

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"The other smell […] that worked its way into your clothes, your skin, your spirit, believed here to rise by way of long-deserted drifts and stopes, from the everyday atmosphere of Hell itself."

Etymology

Apparently related to step, but with uncertain phonological development. Perhaps from a German Low German word like Stoop (“step”), from Middle Low German stōpe (“step”). More at stoop.

Word Breakdown

Root: -, stōpe

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

stopes (plural) stopes (present, singular) stoping (participle, present) stoped (participle, past) stoped (past)

Derived Forms

stoper

Phrases

stope assay plan stope board stope fillings stope hoist stope pillar

Questions

How do you pronounce stope?: The recorded pronunciation is [stoʊp].
What does stope mean?: A mining excavation in the form of a terrace of steps.
Where does stope come from?: Apparently related to step, but with uncertain phonological development. Perhaps from a German Low German word like Stoop (“step”), from Middle Low German stōpe (“step”). More at stoop.

How to pronounce stope

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “stope”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling ([stoʊp]) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “stope”.
Repeat and practice — Say “stope” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.