顿 is a classifier for meals (一顿饭) and for beatings, scoldings, or other actions considered as a bout (骂一顿). For short bursts of wind, rain, pain, etc., use 阵 or 一阵 instead. As a verb, 顿 means to pause briefly (often in speech), while 暂停 is for suspending activities and 停顿 is more formal for halting.