WordWeb Online

1. Take into custody
   "the police arrested the suspected criminals";
   - collar [informal], nail [informal], apprehend, pick up, nab [informal], cop [informal], pinch [Brit, informal], nick [Brit, informal]
    
2. Hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of
   "Arrest the downward trend";
   - check, turn back, stop, contain, hold back
    
3. Attract and fix
   "His look arrested her";
   - catch, get
    
4. Cause to come to an abrupt stop
   "Arrest the progress";
   - halt, hold

1. The act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal)
   "the policeman on the beat got credit for the arrest";
   - apprehension, catch, collar [informal], pinch, taking into custody
    
2. The state of inactivity following an interruption
   "the negotiations were in arrest";
   - check, halt, hitch, stay, stop, stoppage

Derived forms: arrested, arresting, arrests

Type of: attract, capture, clutch, defend, draw, draw in, gaining control, inaction, inactiveness, inactivity, prehend [archaic], pull, pull in, seize, seizure, stop

Encyclopedia: Arrest, imprisonment and pardon of Matthew Hedges