stipe

noun

: a usually short stalk of a plant or fungus: such as
a
: the stem supporting the cap of a fungus
b
: a part that is similar to a stipe and connects the holdfast and blade of a frondose alga
c
: the petiole of a fern frond
d
: a prolongation of the receptacle beneath the ovary of a seed plant
stiped adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Crabs clung to bull kelp stipes — stems — like sloths to a jungle vine. Evan Bush, The Seattle Times, 15 Sep. 2019 They are easily identified by the red-brown cap fading to tan, white to lilac-gray gills, firm texture, and annulus (ring) around the stout stipe (stalk). Sunset, 22 Jan. 2018 For more than an hour, Kern and Heifetz slice stipes and shuttle back and forth to offload totes of kelp to Hamilton aboard the Dial. Bethany Goodrich, Alaska Dispatch News, 8 July 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stipe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin stipes, from Latin, tree trunk; akin to Latin stipare to press together — more at stiff

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stipe was in 1785

Dictionary Entries Near stipe

Cite this Entry

“Stipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stipe. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

stipe

noun
: a short stalk supporting the cap of a mushroom
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