stump

[ stuhmp ]

/ stʌmp /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: stump / stumped on Thesaurus.com

noun

the lower end of a tree or plant left after the main part falls or is cut off; a standing tree trunk from which the upper part and branches have been removed.

the part of a limb of the body remaining after the rest has been cut off.

a part of a broken or decayed tooth left in the gum.

a short remnant, as of a candle; stub.

any basal part remaining after the main or more important part has been removed.

an artificial leg.

Usually stumps. Informal. legs: Stir your stumps and get out of here.

a short, stocky person.

a heavy step or gait, as of a wooden-legged or lame person.

the figurative place of political speechmaking: to go on the stump.

Furniture. a support for the front end of the arm of a chair, sofa, etc.Compare post¹ (def. 2).

a short, thick roll of paper, soft leather, or some similar material, usually having a blunt point, for rubbing a pencil, charcoal, or crayon drawing in order to achieve subtle gradations of tone in representing light and shade.

Cricket. each of the three upright sticks that, with the two bails laid on top of them, form a wicket.

verb (used with object)

to reduce to a stump; truncate; lop.

to clear of stumps, as land.

Chiefly Southern U.S. to stub, as one's toe.

to nonplus, embarrass, or render completely at a loss: This riddle stumps me.

to challenge or dare to do something.

to make political campaign speeches to or in: to stump a state.

Cricket. (of the wicketkeeper) to put (a batsman) out by knocking down a stump or by dislodging a bail with the ball held in the hand at a moment when the batsman is off his ground.

to tone or modify (a crayon drawing, pencil rendering, etc.) by means of a stump.

verb (used without object)

to walk heavily or clumsily, as if with a wooden leg: The captain stumped across the deck.

to make political campaign speeches; electioneer.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!

Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar Coach

Improve Your Writing

Idioms for stump

up a stump, Informal. at a loss; embarrassed; perplexed: Sociologists are up a stump over the sharp rise in juvenile delinquency and crime.

Origin of stump

1200–50; (noun) Middle English stompe, cognate with or <Middle Low German stump(e), Middle Dutch stomp (compare German Stumpf); (v.) Middle English stumpen to stumble (as over a stump), derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM stump

stumpless, adjectivestumplike, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for stump

Dixon presented a photo in which he used an assistant to show that Stipp could not have seen Pistorius on his stumps.
Disastrous Turn By Star Witness For Pistorius Defense|Kelly Berold|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The one thing that both the state and the defense can agree upon here is that Pistorius was on his stumps during the shooting.
The Prosecution vs. Oscar Pistorius: The Case So Far|Kelly Berold|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suddenly, Michonne sees Mike and her friend with only bloody stumps for arms.
‘The Walking Dead’ Midseason Premiere Review of ‘After’: What if Rick Was Dead?|Melissa Leon|February 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The palm trees have gone, leaving a desolate wasteland of stumps reaching into the sky.
Typhoon Haiyan: The Philippine Village that Lost Its Men|The Telegraph|November 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Farmers may also use explosives to loosen soil or break up boulders and tree stumps that get in the way of sowing crops.
Who Needs Explosives Anyway?|Caitlin Dickson|April 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He walked about, stumbling over sticks and stones and stumps, sometimes falling down on soft moss, and again on the hard ground.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
The lascar moved his feet cautiously, and they rustled among dried stumps.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
Eudora was racing now through the briers, and weeds, and palmetto stumps, and dragging Mandy Ann with her.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
This explanation seemed very likely, for here and there were stumps of trees and decaying chips.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner
He had worked across from the left column, and we were soon beholding his bright jacket in a tangle of logs and stumps.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter

British Dictionary definitions for stump

stump

/ (stʌmp) /

noun

the base part of a tree trunk left standing after the tree has been felled or has fallen

the part of something, such as a tooth, limb, or blade, that remains after a larger part has been removed

informal, facetious

(often plural) a leg
stir one's stumps to move or become active

cricket any of three upright wooden sticks that, with two bails laid across them, form a wicket (the stumps)

Also called: tortillon a short sharply-pointed stick of cork or rolled paper or leather, used in drawing and shading

a heavy tread or the sound of heavy footsteps

a platform used by an orator when addressing a meeting

(often plural) Australian a pile used to support a house

on the stump mainly US and Canadian engaged in campaigning, esp by political speech-making

verb

(tr) to stop, confuse, or puzzle

(intr) to plod or trudge heavily

(tr) cricket (of a fielder, esp a wicketkeeper) to dismiss (a batsman) by breaking his wicket with the ball or with the ball in the hand while he is out of his crease

mainly US and Canadian to campaign or canvass (an area), esp by political speech-making

(tr) to reduce to a stump; lop

(tr) to clear (land) of stumps

Derived forms of stump

stumper, noun

Word Origin for stump

C14: from Middle Low German stump; related to Dutch stomp, German Stumpf; see stamp

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for stump

stump

[ stŭmp ]

n.

The extremity of a limb left after amputation.

The pedicle remaining after removal of the tumor to which it was attached.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

stump