[mass noun](Chess)a position counting as a draw, in which a player is not in check but cannot move except into check (棋)无子可动,王棋受困 ■a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible 僵持,僵局 the war had again reached stalemate. 战争再次陷入僵局。
verb
[with obj.]bring to or cause to reach stalemate 使王棋受困,将…逼和;使僵持,使陷入僵局 [as adj. stalemated]the currently stalemated peace talks. 当前陷入僵局的和谈。
语源
mid 18th cent.: from obsolete stale (from Anglo-Norman French estale 'position', from estaler 'be placed') + mate