stub

play

noun \ˈstəb\

Definition of stub

1a : stump 2b : 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
5a : a small part of a leaf (as of a checkbook) attached to the spine for memoranda of the contents of the part torn awayb : 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

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
Tickets are only $5 for entry into the festival, and that ticket includes chances for great prizes, as well as your ticket stub is good for a round of miniature golf during the summer.

— lorrie woycik, Post-Tribune, "Porter County Special Olympics athletes excel at state," 16 June 2017
Placeholders were small stub files that were stored locally and that stood in as a proxy for the real file in the cloud.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "OneDrive done right is back, and now it works properly," 13 June 2017
Mangiagli shows them his union pay stub, to drive the point home.

— vinny vella, Courant Community, "Hartford Job-Training Program Builds New Lives — And A Ballpark," 12 June 2017
The study found that the existing Grand Street Viaduct can handle streetcars traveling in traffic with dual track, with a stub end at the northern terminus.

— lynn horsley, kansascity.com, "KC Streetcar group endorses route north to Berkley Riverfront Park," 7 June 2017
According to the complaint, the couple completed the application process, which included undergoing a background and credit check and providing income verification, paycheck stubs and a bank statement.

— erin hegarty, chicagotribune.com, "Couple files complaint alleging race discrimination in rent deal," 6 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

Other Botany Terms

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

stub

verb

Definition of stub

stubbed

;

stubbing

transitive verb
1a : to grub up by the rootsb : to clear (land) by grubbing out rooted growthc : 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

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

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