expression, godan verb (-tsu)
put a period to; put an end to; settle for the time being
Idiomatic expression meaning to bring something to a close, often temporarily or as a stopping point. The image is of placing a rest symbol in music, suggesting a pause rather than a permanent end.
この問題にはいったん休止符を打って、次の議題に移りましょう。
Let's put a period to this issue for now and move on to the next topic.
長年の論争にようやく休止符が打たれた。
A period was finally put to the long-standing dispute.