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arrest

Pronunciation: /əˈrɛst/
Translate arrest | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of arrest

verb

[with object]
  • 1seize (someone) by legal authority and take them into custody:the police arrested him for possession of marijuana two youths aged 16 were arrested
  • seize and detain (a ship) by legal authority: they arrested a vessel with a ton of salmon on board
  • 2stop or check (progress or a process):the spread of the disease can be arrested
  • [no object] suffer a heart attack:they were trying to resuscitate a patient who had arrested
  • 3attract the attention of (someone):the church’s stillness arrested her

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] the action of seizing someone and taking them into custody:I have a warrant for your arrest they placed her under arrest [count noun]:at least 69 arrests were made
  • 2a stoppage or sudden cessation of motion:a respiratory arrest

Phrases

arrest of judgement

Law the suspension of proceedings in a criminal trial between the verdict and the sentence on the grounds of a material irregularity in the course of the trial.

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French arester, based on Latin ad- 'at, to' + restare 'remain, stop'

arrest in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of arrest in the US English dictionary

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