noun
Uncommon
stump
stuhmp
Stump (noun) means the part of a tree, plant, or limb left behind after the rest has been cut off. Example: “He sat on an old tree stump to eat his sandwich.”
noun
1
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."
"The surgeon dressed the stump carefully after the amputation."
2
In cricket, one of the three upright posts that make up the wicket.
"The ball flew past the batsman and knocked the stump over."
verb
1
To baffle or leave someone unable to answer.
"That riddle really stumped me."
"The final exam question stumped half the class."
2
To travel around giving political speeches; to campaign.
"The senator spent the summer stumping across the state."
3
To walk with a heavy, clumsy gait.
"He stumped off angrily without another word."
How to use stump
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat's left of something after most of it is gone (like a tree stump), or, as a verb, to baffle someone or go campaigning.
Common mistake
"On the stump" is a set phrase for political campaigning — don't take it literally.
Common pairings
tree stump
stump someone
stump speech
hit the stump
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Word forms
- Plural
- stumps
- Third person singular
- stumps
- Past tense
- stumped
- Archaic forms
- stumpest, stumpedst, stumpeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He sat on an old tree _____ to eat his sandwich.
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."
Related words
Rhymes for stump
See all rhymes for 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.
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