Standard Lemma guide

doorstop

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any device or object used to halt the motion of a door, as a large or heavy object, a wedge, or some piece of hardware fixed to the floor, door or wall.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A large book, which by implication could be used to stop a door.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Eggcorn of doorstep.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, nonstandard, proscribed

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An interview with a politician or other public figure (apparently informal or spontaneous but often planned), as they enter or leave a building.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

a stop that keeps open doors from moving

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: doorstopper

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: catch, stop

History

Etymology

From door + stop.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: topall — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Chinese Mandarin: 門擋 /门挡 — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Chinese Mandarin: 門夾 /门夹 — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Chinese Mandarin: 制門器 /制门器 — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Chinese Mandarin: 門碰頭 /门碰头 — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Finnish: ovenpysäytin — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Finnish: ovikiila — wedge used to keep a door open
  • French: cale-porte — wedge used to keep a door open
  • German: Türstopper — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Italian: fermaporta — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Māori: matapipi — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Norwegian Bokmål: dørstopper — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Plautdietsch: Däastett — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Polish: podkładka pod drzwi — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Polish: odbój — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Russian: дверно́й сто́пор (dvernój stópor) — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Spanish: cuña — wedge used to keep a door open
  • Chinese Mandarin: 大部頭 /大部头 (dàbùtóu) — large book — see also tome
  • Chinese Mandarin: 巨著 (jùzhù) — large book — see also tome
  • Finnish: tiiliskivi — large book — see also tome
  • French: brique — large book — see also tome
  • French: pavé — large book — see also tome
  • Norwegian Bokmål: mursten — large book — see also tome
  • Norwegian Bokmål: murstein — large book — see also tome
  • Polish: cegła — large book — see also tome
  • Spanish: mamotreto — large book — see also tome
  • Spanish: librote — large book — see also tome
  • Spanish: tocho — large book — see also tome
  • Chinese Mandarin: 臨時採訪 /临时采访 (línshí cǎifǎng) — interview with a public figure
  • Finnish: haastattelu ovensuulla — interview with a public figure