Chess . a position of the pieces in which a player cannot move any piece except the king and cannot move the king without putting it in check.

any position or situation in which no action can be taken or progress made; deadlock

Talks between union and management resulted in a stalemate.

to subject to a stalemate.

to bring to a standstill.

to be or result in a stalemate or standoff

Negotiations stalemated when new salary demands were introduced.

noun

headway , progress

noun

arrest , catch-22 * , check , delay , draw , gridlock , impasse , pause , standoff , standstill , tienotes:stalemate does not end - it is the outcome (stale in stalemate is from anglo-norman meaning \'be placed\'); a standoff or deadlock can end , dead heat , deadlock , tie