stump
8 synonyms for stump, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The part of a tree, plant, or limb left behind after the rest has been cut off.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The part of a tree, plant, or limb left behind after the rest has been cut off.
“He sat on an old tree stump to eat his sandwich.”
How to use stump
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
tree stump
stump someone
stump speech
hit the stump
Etymology
From Middle English stumpe, related to Middle Low German and Middle Dutch words for a cut-off remnant — ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "blunt" or "part cut off."
Full origin of stump →Frequently asked questions
What does “stump” mean?
The word “stump” means the part of a tree, plant, or limb left behind after the rest has been cut off. In plain terms, what's left of something after most of it is gone (like a tree stump), or, as a verb, to baffle someone or go campaigning.
How do you pronounce “stump”?
“Stump” is pronounced stuhmp (/stʌmp/ in IPA).
How do you use “stump” in a sentence?
Here is “stump” used in a sentence: “He sat on an old tree stump to eat his sandwich.”
What part of speech is “stump”?
Depending on how it is used, “stump” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “stump” come from?
The word “stump” comes from Middle English. From Middle English stumpe, related to Middle Low German and Middle Dutch words for a cut-off remnant — ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "blunt" or "part cut off.".
Is “stump” a common word?
“Stump” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stump” have?
“Stump” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the part of a tree, plant, or limb left behind after the rest has been cut off.
Related words
stump up
stumped
