Stall vs. Tall: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 6, 2023
"Stall" refers to a stand or booth or to delay, while "Tall" describes something of greater height. Both are unrelated in meaning.
Key Differences
1. "Stall" and "Tall" are two distinct words with very different meanings. While "Stall" can refer to a booth or stand, often in a market setting, or the act of delaying, "Tall" is an adjective used to describe something with a greater than average height or extent.
2. Considering "Stall," it can depict a tangible structure, such as where vendors sell their goods, or it can represent an intangible action, such as stalling for time. On the other hand, "Tall" is primarily an adjective, providing a descriptor for the height or stature of entities, whether they're living beings or inanimate objects.
3. Even in pronunciation, "Stall" and "Tall" differ, given the initial "St-" sound of the former. Yet, both have the common "all" sound at the end. Nevertheless, beyond this phonetic similarity, their meanings diverge significantly.
4. In various contexts, "Stall" can suggest a deliberate pause or delay, or even a mechanical failure. In contrast, "Tall" remains consistent in its portrayal of height, whether one is talking about a tall person, a tall tale (meaning an exaggerated story), or a tall building.
5. In sum, while "Stall" navigates between tangible stands and intangible delays, "Tall" is a straightforward descriptor of height or extent.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun or Verb
Adjective
Primary Meaning
A booth or stand; to delay
Having greater height
Phonetic Similarity
Starts with "St-"
Starts with "T-"
Usage in Context
Can describe a structure or an action
Primarily describes height or extent
Secondary Meanings
Mechanical failure; a tactic to waste time
An exaggerated story (e.g., a tall tale)
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Stall and Tall Definitions
Stall
A stand, booth, or compartment for the sale of goods in a market.
She sells handmade jewelry at her stall in the flea market.
Tall
Exaggerated or unbelievable (as in a story or claim).
It sounds like a tall tale, but it's true.
Stall
A situation in which an engine or vehicle stops because it lacks power.
The car went into a stall after running out of gas.
Tall
Of a specified height.
The building is ten stories tall.
Stall
A compartment for one domestic animal in a barn or shed.
Tall
Rising to a specific height.
The tree grew tall, reaching the clouds.
Stall
A booth, cubicle, or stand used by a vendor, as at a market.
Tall
Ambitious or difficult to believe.
That's a tall order to fulfill in such a short time.
Stall
A small compartment
A shower stall.
Tall
Having greater than ordinary height
A tall woman.
Stall
An enclosed seat in the chancel of a church.
Tall
Having considerable height, especially in relation to width; lofty
Tall trees.
Stall
A pew in a church.
Tall
Having a specified height
A plant three feet tall.
Stall
Chiefly British A seat in the front part of a theater.
Tall
(Informal) Fanciful or exaggerated; boastful
Tall tales of heroic exploits.
Stall
A space marked off, as in a garage, for parking a motor vehicle.
Tall
Impressively great or difficult
A tall order to fill.
Stall
A protective sheath for a finger or toe.
Tall
(Obsolete) Excellent; fine.
Stall
The sudden, unintended loss of power or effectiveness in an engine.
Tall
With proud bearing; straight
Stand tall.
Stall
A condition in which an aircraft or airfoil experiences an interruption of airflow resulting in loss of lift and a tendency to drop.
Tall
(of a person) Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
Being tall is an advantage in basketball.
Stall
A ruse or tactic used to mislead or delay.
Tall
(of a building, etc.) Having its top a long way up; having a great vertical (and often greater than horizontal) extent; high.
Stall
To put or lodge in a stall.
Tall
(of a story) Hard to believe, such as a tall story or a tall tale.
Stall
To maintain in a stall for fattening
To stall cattle.
Tall
Smaller than grande, usually 8 ounces (~ 230 ml).
Stall
To halt the motion or progress of; bring to a standstill.
Tall
(obsolete) Obsequious; obedient.
Stall
To cause (a motor or motor vehicle) accidentally to stop running.
Tall
(obsolete) Seemly; suitable; fitting, becoming, comely; attractive, handsome.
Stall
To cause (an aircraft) to go into a stall.
Tall
(obsolete) Bold; brave; courageous; valiant.
Stall
To live or be lodged in a stall. Used of an animal.
Tall
(archaic) Fine; proper; admirable; great; excellent.
Stall
To stick fast in mud or snow.
Tall
Someone or something that is tall.
Stall
To come to a standstill
Negotiations stalled.
Tall
A clothing size for taller people.
Do you have this in a tall?
Stall
To stop running as a result of mechanical failure
The car stalled on the freeway.
Tall
A tall serving of a drink, especially one from Starbucks, which contains 12 ounces.
Stall
To lose forward flying speed, causing a stall. Used of an aircraft.
Tall
High in stature; having a considerable, or an unusual, extension upward; long and comparatively slender; having the diameter or lateral extent small in proportion to the height; as, a tall person, tree, or mast.
Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall.
Stall
To employ delaying tactics against
Stall off creditors.
Tall
Brave; bold; courageous.
As tall a trenchermanAs e'er demolished a pye fortification.
His companions, being almost in despair of victory, were suddenly recomforted by Sir William Stanley, which came to succors with three thousand tall men.
Stall
To employ delaying tactics
Stalling for time.
Tall
Fine; splendid; excellent; also, extravagant; excessive.
Stall
(countable) A compartment for a single animal in a stable or cattle shed.
Tall
Great in vertical dimension; high in stature;
Tall people
Tall buildings
Tall trees
Tall ships
Stall
A stable; a place for cattle.
Tall
Lofty in style;
He engages in so much tall talk, one never really realizes what he is saying
Stall
A bench or table on which small articles of merchandise are exposed for sale.
Tall
Impressively difficult;
A tall order
Stall
(countable) A small open-fronted shop, for example in a market, food court, etc.
Tall
Too improbable to admit of belief;
A tall story
Stall
A very small room used for a shower or a toilet.
Tall
Having a greater than average height.
She was tall and slender, towering over her peers.
Stall
(countable) A seat in a theatre close to and (about) level with the stage; traditionally, a seat with arms, or otherwise partly enclosed, as distinguished from the benches, sofas, etc.
Stall
(Germanic paganism) An Heathen altar, typically an indoor one, as contrasted with a more substantial outdoor harrow.
Stall
A seat in a church, especially one next to the chancel or choir, reserved for church officials and dignitaries.
Stall
A church office that entitles the incumbent to the use of a church stall.
Stall
A sheath to protect the finger.
Stall
(mining) The space left by excavation between pillars.
Stall
(Canadian) A parking stall; a space for a vehicle in a parking lot or parkade.
Stall
An action that is intended to cause, or actually causes, delay.
His encounters with security, reception, the secretary, and the assistant were all stalls until the general manager's attorney arrived.
Stall
(aeronautics) Loss of lift due to an airfoil's critical angle of attack being exceeded, normally occurring due to low airspeed.
Stall
(transitive) To put (an animal, etc.) in a stall.
To stall an ox
Stall
To fatten.
To stall cattle
Stall
(obsolete) To live in, or as if in, a stall; to dwell.
Stall
To place in an office with the customary formalities; to install.
Stall
To forestall; to anticipate.
Stall
To keep close; to keep secret.
Stall
(transitive) To employ delaying tactics against.
He stalled the creditors as long as he could.
Stall
(intransitive) To employ delaying tactics; to stall for time.
Soon it became clear that she was stalling to give him time to get away.
Stall
(intransitive) To come to a standstill.
Stall
(transitive) To cause to stop making progress; to hinder; to slow down; to delay or forestall.
Stall
To exceed the critical angle of attack, resulting in loss of lift.
Stall
To cause to exceed the critical angle of attack, resulting in loss of lift.
The pilot stalled the plane by pulling the nose up too high at a slow airspeed.
Stall
To plunge into mire or snow so as not to be able to get on; to set; to fix.
To stall a cart
Stall
To stop suddenly.
Stall
To cause the engine of a manual-transmission car or truck to stop by going too slowly for the selected gear.
Stall
(obsolete) To be stuck, as in mire or snow; to stick fast.
Stall
(obsolete) To be tired of eating, as cattle.
Stall
A stand; a station; a fixed spot; hence, the stand or place where a horse or an ox is kept and fed; the division of a stable, or the compartment, for one horse, ox, or other animal.
Stall
A stable; a place for cattle.
At last he found a stall where oxen stood.
Stall
A small apartment or shed in which merchandise is exposed for sale; as, a butcher's stall; a bookstall.
Stall
A bench or table on which small articles of merchandise are exposed for sale.
How peddlers' stalls with glittering toys are laid.
Stall
A seat in the choir of a church, for one of the officiating clergy. It is inclosed, either wholly or partially, at the back and sides. The stalls are frequently very rich, with canopies and elaborate carving.
The dignified clergy, out of humility, have called their thrones by the names of stalls.
Loud the monks sang in their stalls.
Stall
In the theater, a seat with arms or otherwise partly inclosed, as distinguished from the benches, sofas, etc.
Stall
The space left by excavation between pillars. See Post and stall, under Post.
Stall
A covering or sheath, as of leather, horn, of iron, for a finger or thumb; a cot; as, a thumb stall; a finger stall.
Cries the stall reader, "Bless us! what a word onA titlepage is this!"
Stall
To put into a stall or stable; to keep in a stall or stalls; as, to stall an ox.
Where King Latinus then his oxen stalled.
Stall
To fatten; as, to stall cattle.
Stall
To place in an office with the customary formalities; to install.
Stall
To plunge into mire or snow so as not to be able to get on; to set; to fix; as, to stall a cart.
His horses had been stalled in the snow.
Stall
To forestall; to anticipate.
This is not to be stall'd by my report.
Stall
To keep close; to keep secret.
Stall this in your bosom.
Stall
To live in, or as in, a stall; to dwell.
We could not stall togetherIn the whole world.
Stall
To kennel, as dogs.
Stall
To be set, as in mire or snow; to stick fast.
Stall
To be tired of eating, as cattle.
Stall
A compartment in a stable where a single animal is confined and fed
Stall
Small area set off by walls for special use
Stall
A booth where articles are displayed for sale
Stall
A malfunction in the flight of an aircraft in which there is a sudden loss of lift that results in a downward plunge;
The plane went into a stall and I couldn't control it
Stall
Small individual study area in a library
Stall
A tactic used to mislead or delay
Stall
Postpone doing what one should be doing;
He did not want to write the letter and procrastinated for days
Stall
Come to a stop;
The car stalled in the driveway
Stall
Deliberately delay an event or action;
She doesn't want to write the report, so she is stalling
Stall
Put into, or keep in, a stall;
Stall the horse
Stall
Experience a stall in flight, of airplanes
Stall
Cause an airplane to go into a stall
Stall
Cause an engine to stop;
The inexperienced driver kept stalling the car
Stall
An action meant to delay something.
He tried to stall the meeting by asking endless questions.
Stall
A place for the keeping of animals.
The horse was restless in its stall.
Stall
To stop running, typically because of an obstacle.
The project stalled due to lack of funding.
FAQs
Can "Stall" refer to a place in a bathroom?
Yes, a stall can refer to a partitioned section in a bathroom.
Is "Tall" used to describe width?
No, "Tall" refers to height, not width.
Can "Stall" mean a vehicle's engine stopping?
Yes, when a vehicle's engine stops suddenly, it's said to "stall."
Can "Stall" mean to delay on purpose?
Yes, to "stall" can mean to delay or dawdle intentionally.
Is a market booth a "Stall"?
Yes, a booth in a market where goods are sold is often called a stall.
Is "Tall" subjective?
Yes, what is considered "tall" can vary based on cultural and individual perceptions.
Can "Tall" refer to an exaggerated story?
Yes, an exaggerated or unlikely story is sometimes called a "tall tale."
Does "Tall" only describe people?
No, "Tall" can describe anything with height, like buildings, trees, etc.
If someone is taller than average, are they "Tall"?
Yes, someone with a height greater than average is described as "tall."
Can "Stall" refer to a tactic in sports?
Yes, in sports, players might "stall" to waste time.
Can "Tall" refer to depth?
No, "Tall" primarily pertains to height, not depth.
Is a "Tall" glass larger in volume?
Not necessarily. "Tall" refers to height; volume would also depend on width.
Is a "Stall" always a physical structure?
No, "stall" can also refer to a delay or a situation where progress stops.
Can "Stall" be used in aviation terms?
Yes, in aviation, a "stall" refers to a sudden reduction in the lift of an aircraft.
If a car engine stops suddenly, did it "Stall"?
Yes
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
