stub

play

noun \ ˈstəb \

Definition of stub

1 a :stump 2

b :a short piece remaining on a stem or trunk where a branch has been lost

2 :something made or worn to a short or blunt shape; especially :a pen with a short blunt nib

3 :a short blunt part left after a larger part has been broken off or used up

a pencil stub

4 :something cut short or stunted

5 a :a small part of a leaf (as of a checkbook) attached to the spine for memoranda of the contents of the part torn away

b :the part of a ticket returned to the user

See stub defined for English-language learners

See stub defined for kids

Examples of stub in a Sentence

Hold onto your ticket stub in case you leave the theater and want to come back in again.
an ashtray full of cigarette stubs

Recent Examples of stub from the Web

At the shelter, Teryl and Kevin dug out folders full of income statements and pay stubs.

— alden woods, azcentral, "$200 from home: Renters in the housing crisis are often stuck between help and affordability," 17 Aug. 2017
After that, however, things never really materialized and Paulinho’s performances never really fulfilled the expectations that came with his hefty pay stub.

— luis miguel echegaray, SI.com, "Don't Be So Quick to Judge Paulinho's Scrutinized, Controversial Barcelona Transfer," 17 Aug. 2017
All the items were check stubs, personal notes, copies of union correspondence e-mails.

— christina hall, Detroit Free Press, "Macomb County clerk's employee called 911 on her boss," 14 Aug. 2017
She is accused of falsely representing her clients’ income, and generating false W-2 forms and pay stubs for various shell companies that did not employ her clients.

— cathy locke, sacbee, "Has woman been tried in bank fraud case involving unsuspecting immigrants?," 14 Aug. 2017
Older larvae will completely strip off the leaves by chewing off the grass blades at the base, leaving behind ragged stubs.

— dan gill, NOLA.com, "How to spot, prevent and control sob webworms in your lawn," 29 July 2017
Right now, Frieders Lane is a stub road with a dirt road leading into farm fields.

— steve lord, Aurora Beacon-News, "Developer says Ferry Road in Aurora 'a place people want to be'," 5 July 2017
The Sox should start a new promotion: If Renteria lasts longer than that day's starting pitcher, fans can redeem the ticket stub for one single-game admission within the next month.

— david haugh, chicagotribune.com, "Time ripe for White Sox to deal Jose Quintana as interest heats up," 29 June 2017
Members just flash an old Auburn pay stub at the clubhouse door.

— joseph goodman, AL.com, "Auburn fires its coaches, but they're all coming back," 19 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stub.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of stub

Middle English stubb, from Old English stybb; akin to Old Norse stūfr stump, Greek stypos stem

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

stub Synonyms

Synonyms

end, fag end, leftover, oddment, remainder, remnant, ¹scrap

Related Words

leavings, odds and ends, pickings, refuse, remains, residual, residue, scraping (s), stump, vestige; balance, rest; chip, flake, fragment, piece, sliver, splinter; ribbon (s), shred, tatter

Near Antonyms

whole

Other Botany Terms

annual, burgeon, chloroplast, nomenclature, succulent, sylvan, xylem

stub

verb

Definition of stub

stubbed; stubbing

transitive verb

1 a :to grub up by the roots

b :to clear (land) by grubbing out rooted growth

c :to hew or cut down (a tree) close to the ground

2 :to extinguish (something, such as a cigarette) by crushing

3 :to strike (one's foot or toe) against an object

See stub defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of stub from the Web

A victory over Alabama or Florida State would provide more wiggle room at the CFP cut line if either squad stubs its toe against a weak opponent in league play or comes up short in its conference title game. 2.

— chris johnson, SI.com, "The 10 Most Meaningful Games of Week 1," 30 Aug. 2017
A while back, Jaime was alone with the kids, and Abigail stubbed her toe.

— andrew theen, OregonLive.com, "Father's Day: Meet Dan Beutler, a Congressional spouse, stay-at-home dad and organ donor," 18 June 2017
How many young Americans have stubbed their pronouncing toes upon it.

— rosa inocencio smith, The Atlantic, "The Atlantic Daily: Terror and Twitter," 5 June 2017
Already stubbed for a bathroom and bar, this currently unfinished space can be tailored to a buyer’s delight.

— kansascity, "Lenexa development offers varied home styles, picturesque views," 12 May 2017
The blin is so ubiquitous in Russia that the word is also used as a mild expletive: a polite Russian might mutter it after stubbing her toe, in place of the curse word blyad.

— talia lavin, The New Yorker, "A Russian Fast-Food Chain Tries Its Luck in America," 13 Apr. 2017

First Known Use of stub

15th century

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

STUB Defined for English Language Learners

stub

play

noun

Definition of stub for English Language Learners

: a short part left after a larger part has been broken off or used up
: a part of a ticket that is kept by the person who uses the ticket
: a piece of paper that is attached to a check and has information (such as the amount and the date) printed on it

stub

verb

Definition of stub for English Language Learners

: to put out (a cigarette) by pressing it down against something

STUB Defined for Kids

stub

play

noun \ ˈstəb \

Definition of stub for Students

1 :a short part remaining after the rest has been removed or used up

a pencil stub

2 :a small part of a larger piece of printed paper (as a check or ticket) kept as a record of the purpose of the paper

stub

verb

Definition of stub for Students

stubbed; stubbing

:to strike (as the toe) against an object

Learn More about stub

See words that rhyme with stub Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stub Spanish Central: Translation of stub Nglish: Translation of stub for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stub for Arabic speakers

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Origin and Etymology of stub

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Other Botany Terms

stub

Definition of stub

Recent Examples of stub from the Web

First Known Use of stub

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

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STUB Defined for English Language Learners

stub

Definition of stub for English Language Learners

stub

Definition of stub for English Language Learners

STUB Defined for Kids

stub

Definition of stub for Students

stub

Definition of stub for Students

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