Stops street measures (5)
I believe the answer is:
stems
'stops' is the definition.
(I know this)
'street measures' is the wordplay.
'street' becomes 'st' (abbreviation).
'measures' becomes 'ems' (em is a kind of measure).
'st'+'ems'='STEMS'
(Other definitions for stems that I've seen before include "Dams" , "Long narrow parts of flowers" , "Slender upright parts, flowers or glasses" , "things growing?" , "Stops" .)