Carved section at top of wall, reportedly makes them stop dead, transfixed (6)
I believe the answer is:
freeze
'carved section' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for freeze that I've seen before include "shivering" , "Solidify due to decrease in temperature" , "Become motionless with fear" , "Harden into ice" , "Change to ice" .)