stanch

/stɑːnt͡ʃ/

Group 31Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(verb)
To stop or restrict the flow of blood from a wound; to stop the flow of something
GRE

Example in Context

Emergency workers struggled to stanch the leak from the damaged pipeline before the chemicals reached the town's water supply.

Synonyms

stophaltstem

Etymology

Refers to the action of stopping a flow, especially in medical contexts.

  • stanch (Old French) — to stop

Memory Aid

🚑Sounds like “stanch

When blood was gushing, I shouted, 'STANCH that flow, or I might need a STITCH!'

Visual Association

🩹A dramatic scene of a doctor applying pressure to a wound, stopping the bleeding.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “stanch” mean on the GRE?

stanch (verb) means “To stop or restrict the flow of blood from a wound; to stop the flow of something”. Emergency workers struggled to stanch the leak from the damaged pipeline before the chemicals reached the town's water supply.

How to remember “stanch” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “stanch” sounds like “stanch”. When blood was gushing, I shouted, 'STANCH that flow, or I might need a STITCH!'

What are synonyms for “stanch”?

Common synonyms: stop, halt, stem.