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stunt

1
[ stuhnt ]
/ stʌnt /
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See synonyms for: stunt / stunted / stunting / stunts on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
to stop, slow down, or hinder the growth or development of; dwarf: A harsh climate stunted the trees.Brutal treatment in childhood stunted his personality.
noun
a stop or hindrance in growth or development.
arrested development.
a plant or animal hindered from attaining its proper growth.
Plant Pathology. a disease of plants, characterized by a dwarfing or stunting of the plant.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as


Origin of stunt

1
First recorded in 1575–85; verb use of dialect stunt “dwarfed, stubborn”; cognate with Middle High German stunz, Old Norse stuttr “short”; akin to stint1

OTHER WORDS FROM stunt

stunt·ing·ly, adverbstunty, adjective

Other definitions for stunt (2 of 2)

stunt2
[ stuhnt ]
/ stʌnt /

noun
a performance displaying a person's skill or dexterity, as in athletics; feat: an acrobatic stunt.
any remarkable feat performed chiefly to attract attention: The kidnapping was said to be a publicity stunt.
verb (used without object)
to do a stunt or stunts.
Television Slang. to add specials, miniseries, etc., to a schedule of programs, especially so as to increase ratings.
verb (used with object)
to use in doing stunts: to stunt an airplane.

Origin of stunt

2
An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; origin uncertain; perhaps a variant of stump (in the sense “challenge; dare”)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use stunt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stunt (1 of 2)

stunt1
/ (stʌnt) /

verb
(tr) to prevent or impede the growth or development of (a plant, animal, etc)
noun
the act or an instance of stunting
a person, animal, or plant that has been stunted

Derived forms of stunt

stunted, adjectivestuntedness, noun

Word Origin for stunt

C17 (as vb: to check the growth of): perhaps from C15 stont of short duration, from Old English stunt simple, foolish; sense probably influenced by Old Norse stuttr short in stature, dwarfed

British Dictionary definitions for stunt (2 of 2)

stunt2
/ (stʌnt) /

noun
an acrobatic, dangerous, or spectacular action
an acrobatic or dangerous piece of action in a film or television programme
anything spectacular or unusual done to gain publicity
verb
(intr) to perform a stunt or stunts

Word Origin for stunt

C19: US student slang, of unknown origin
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
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