an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down
"The comedian's opening joke was such a stopper that the entire theater laughed itself into silence before he could continue."
a remark to which there is no polite conversational reply
"His question about my salary was such an awkward stopper that I could only stare at him in silence."
(bridge) a playing card with a value sufficiently high to insure taking a trick in a particular suit
"if my partner has a spade stopper I can bid no trump"
Agent noun of stop, someone or something that stops something.
"The cork acted as an effective stopper for the broken wine bottle."
To close a container by using a stopper.
"She quickly corked the wine bottle with a rubber stopper to keep the air out."