arrest meaning and definition

ARREST noun

Definition of arrest (noun)

1. the act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
   • "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar"
   • synonyms: apprehension, catch, collar, pinch, taking into custody
2. the state of inactivity following an interruption
   • "the negotiations were in arrest"; "held them in check"; "during the halt he got some lunch"; "the momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow"; "he spent the entire stop in his seat"
   • synonyms: check, halt, hitch, stay, stop, stoppage

ARREST verb

Definition of arrest (verb)

1. take into custody
   • "the police nabbed the suspected criminals"
   • synonyms: apprehend, collar, cop, nab, nail, pick up
2. hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of
   • "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the growth of communism in South East Asia"; "Contain the rebel movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism"
   • synonyms: check, contain, hold back, stop, turn back
3. attract and fix
   • "His look caught her"; "She caught his eye"; "Catch the attention of the waiter"
   • synonyms: catch, get
4. cause to stop
   • "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress"; "halt the presses"
   • synonyms: halt, hold