embargo and simmer

em·bar·go  (m-bärg)

n. pl. em·bar·goes

1. A government order prohibiting the movement of merchant ships into or out of its ports.

2. A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation.

3. A prohibition; a ban: an embargo on criticism.

tr.v. em·bar·goed, em·bar·go·ing, em·bar·goes

To impose an embargo on.


sim·mer

v. sim·mered, sim·mer·ing, sim·mers

v.intr.

1. To be cooked gently or remain just at or below the boiling point.

2.

a. To be filled with pent-up emotion; seethe.

b. To be in a state of gentle ferment: thoughts simmering in the back of her mind.

v.tr.

1. To cook (food) gently in a liquid just at or below the boiling point.

2. To keep (a liquid) near or just below the boiling point.


Simmering tensions between Iran and the West hovering around the possible disruption of international oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to stall on Friday, with strong signals emerging from Europe that a proposed embargo of Iranian oil was not imminent.