stagnate

Stagnate is a verb meaning to cease to develop, grow, or move, or to cause something to do so. It can be used intransitively, as in "a river stagnates during a drought," or transitively, as in "the project was stagnated by bureaucratic delays." In practical use, stagnation describes a lack of progress or movement.

In physical contexts, stagnation refers to liquids that are not flowing, such as stagnant water that becomes still and may develop odors or microbial growth. In fluid dynamics, the term stagnation appears in phrases such as stagnation point or stagnation pressure, describing conditions where flow speed relative to a surface is zero.

In economics, business, and biology, stagnation denotes a lack of growth, development, or change. An economy that fails to grow for several quarters is said to stagnate; a market that ceases to innovate may stagnate; stagnant water can contribute to the proliferation of bacteria and algae.

Etymology and related terms: The word derives from the sense of motionless water or other liquids, emphasizing the absence of flow. Related terms include stagnant (adjective), stagnation (noun), and stasis (a state of balance or inactivity).