stop down
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To decrease the aperture of a photographic lens, moving from an f/stop represented by a lower number to an f/stop represented by a higher number.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The f/stops are arranged so that as you stop down, each stop allows half the amount of light to pass through as the stop before it did.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “stop down” mean?
To decrease the aperture of a photographic lens, moving from an f/stop represented by a lower number to an f/stop represented by a higher number.
Is “stop down” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.