Em*bar"go (?), n.; pl. Embargoes (#). [Sp., fr. embargar to arrest, restrain; pref. em- (L. in) + Sp. barra bar, akin to F. barre bar. See Bar.] An edict or order of the government prohibiting the departure of ships of commerce from some or all of the ports within its dominions; a prohibition to sail.

&fist; If the embargo is laid on an enemy's ships, it is called a hostile embargo; if on the ships belonging to citizens of the embargoing state, it is called a civil embargo.

Em*bar"go, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embargoed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Embargoing.] To lay an embargo on and thus detain; to prohibit from leaving port; -- said of ships, also of commerce and goods.

• an order by the government prohibiting ships from leaving port
  
• a ban on trade with another country
       
• Several countries have imposed an embargo on Burma.
  
• a temporary ban on making certain information public
       
• This copy of the federal budget is under embargo until 2 p.m.
  
• to impose an embargo on trading certain goods with another country
  
• to impose an embargo on a document