to shut down / immobilize / deregister
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to shut down
To take a plant, factory, or machine out of operation permanently or for a longer period of time.
Das Atomkraftwerk wurde nach 40 Jahren Betrieb endgültig stillgelegt.
The nuclear power plant was shut down permanently after 40 years of operation.
to immobilize
To immobilize a body part for medical reasons in order to promote healing.
Nach der Operation musste das Bein für mehrere Wochen stillgelegt werden.
After the operation, the leg had to be immobilized for several weeks.
to deregister
To take a vehicle out of operation and deregister it at the vehicle registration office.
Er hat sein altes Auto stillgelegt, weil die Reparatur zu teuer war.
He deregistered his old car because the repair was too expensive.
'Stilllegen' (to shut down / immobilize / deregister) is a separable verb made up of 'still' (quiet/still) and 'legen' (to lay/put). In a main clause, the prefix 'still' goes at the end; in subordinate clauses and in the infinitive, the verb stays together.
Die Firma legt die alte Fabrik nächstes Jahr still.
The company is shutting down the old factory next year.
The verb 'stilllegen' (to shut down / immobilize / deregister) is transitive, meaning it always requires an accusative object. You always shut down, immobilize, or deregister *something*.
Der Arzt hat meinen Arm für zwei Wochen stillgelegt.
The doctor immobilized my arm for two weeks.
The object of the verb makes the meaning clear. If it is a plant or factory, it refers to production. With a body part, it means medical immobilization. With a vehicle, it refers to official deregistration.
Man muss ein Auto offiziell stilllegen, wenn man es nicht mehr fährt.
You have to officially deregister a car if you no longer drive it.
In an economic context, 'stilllegen' (to shut down) is often used for large facilities or entire divisions. Typical objects are: a factory, a power plant, production, or a mine.
Wegen mangelnder Aufträge musste die Firma eine ganze Produktionslinie stilllegen.
Because of a lack of orders, the company had to shut down an entire production line.
to hire / adjust / stop
Both verbs can describe bringing an operation to an end. „Einstellen“ focuses on the activity or production that has ended, whereas „stilllegen“ refers to the plant, factory, or machine as an object that has been taken out of operation. Use „einstellen“ for the operation and „stilllegen“ for the facility concerned.
Die Firma legt die alte Produktionsanlage Ende des Jahres still.
The company will shut down the old production facility at the end of the year.
Die Firma stellt die Produktion dieses Modells Ende des Jahres ein.
The company will discontinue production of this model at the end of the year.
