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to unstop

to unstop

4.1
To remove a blockage so water can flow again
  • verb
  • /ʌnˈstɑp/
translation icon : destapar
  • He fell in love with a lady plumber who came to unstop our sink.

Examples

  • As Bernzy thinks about it, Hayward pulls a silver whisky flask from his jacket, unstops it, and drinks.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The only time I'd ever seen Mrs. DiLuna was the time I'd gone over to unstop the sink.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The plumber screamed when he came to unstop the commode.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The plumber was called to unstop the kitchen sink after it began to overflow.

  • They had to unstop the drain to prevent water from backing up into the basement.

  • To fix the issue, he decided to unstop the pipe using a specialized tool.

Synonyms

to unclog
vsto unstop
7 3.2

To remove something blocking a pipe or drain so water can flow

is applied especially to pipes drains rather than all objects
to unblock
vsto unstop
3 3.1

Remove something that stops a pipe, machine, or blood vessel from working

is used mainly for pipes drains and gutters
to unstuff
vsto unstop
1 7.4

To clear a blocked nose or ear so air can move

is used more for drains gutters not only for removing filled objects
to unjam
vsto unstop
1 4.2

To free something that is stuck so it can move or work again

is specific to clearing liquid flow in pipes rather than mechanical jams
to deblock
vsto unstop
6.8

To remove a blockage from a pipe or drain

is less common in everyday speech and more technical
to unchoke
vsto unstop
6.7

To remove a block so water or air can flow again

is often used for forcing flow not for freeing stuck objects

Antonyms

1.0

To make something end and not continue

How Clear

to unclog
7 3.2
to unstop
4.1
to clear
1.5
to flush
168 2.7

Surface Forms

unstop infinitive
unstopped past
unstopped past participle
unstopping present participle
unstops third person singular

Morphology

unstop = stop (transparent) = un

This is a regular privative formation meaning to remove a stop or blockage.

Etymology

Unstop is made of the part un- meaning 'reverse' and the word stop meaning 'block', like in unclog or unlock, so to unstop a pipe or gutter is to remove the block and let water flow again.