stubble

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noun, often attributive stub·ble \ ˈstə-bəl \

Definition of stubble

1 :the basal part of herbaceous plants and especially cereal grasses remaining attached to the soil after harvest

2 :a rough surface or growth resembling stubble; especially :a short growth of beard

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stubbled

play \-bəld\ adjective

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stubbly

play \-b(ə-)lē\ adjective

See stubble defined for English-language learners

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Examples of stubble in a Sentence

He ran his hand over his stubble.

Recent Examples of stubble from the Web

The driver is described as a white man, who is heavyset, has green eyes and had dirty blond stubble, police said.

— chicago tribune staff, chicagotribune.com, "Police: Man tried to lure teen girl in Chinatown," 20 July 2017
T.J. Osborne (the one with the stubble) led the backing band through a fresh, funk pop rendition that seamlessly reverted to twangy traditional country when John Osborne (the bearded brother) belted out his baritone.

— piet levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Luke Bryan belts out 'Sweet Caroline,' the Chainsmokers and his own hits at Summerfest," 29 June 2017
Eden Hazard in FIFA 18 has skin and stubble that are impressively accurate, but his eyes are as eerily dead as any video game character model.

— john robertson, Ars Technica, "FIFA 18: Football for the many, not the few," 10 June 2017
Turner pointed out a series of triangular wedges in a slope rising 1,000 feet above the road and covered with the stubble of yucca and rabbitbrush.

— thomas curwen, latimes.com, "Geologists, engineers puzzle over how to remove more than a million tons of rock and dirt from Highway 1," 26 May 2017
Marc dragged a razor over his stubble as the sun illuminated the steamy window above the shower.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Getting Out the Message To Save Himself," 22 May 2017
The one-day stubble is the perfect balance a young guy: slightly rebellious and undeniably cool.

— max berlinger, GQ, "The Best Men's Grooming Moves We Saw This Week," 21 May 2017
Elementary-school science teachers huddled close to stubble-faced grad students in organic chemistry.

— alan burdick, The New Yorker, "The Usefulness of a March for Science," 23 Apr. 2017
Most women get rid of body hair off at the first sign of trouble (ahem, stubble).

— caroline alkire, Good Housekeeping, "This Fitness Blogger Hasn't Shaved Any Part of Her Body in Over a Year," 13 Apr. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of stubble

Middle English stuble, from Anglo-French estuble, from Latin stupula stalk, straw, alteration of stipula — more at stipule

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

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

STUBBLE Defined for English Language Learners

stubble

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noun

Definition of stubble for English Language Learners

: short hairs growing from the face of a man who has not shaved very recently
: the short ends of crops left in the ground after the crops have been cut down

STUBBLE Defined for Kids

stubble

play

noun stub·ble \ ˈstə-bəl \

Definition of stubble for Students

1 :a short growth of beard

2 :the short ends of crops and especially cereal grasses remaining attached to the ground after harvest

Learn More about stubble

See words that rhyme with stubble Spanish Central: Translation of stubble Nglish: Translation of stubble for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stubble for Arabic speakers

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stubble

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Definition of stubble

stubbled

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Origin and Etymology of stubble

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

STUBBLE Defined for English Language Learners

stubble

Definition of stubble for English Language Learners

STUBBLE Defined for Kids

stubble

Definition of stubble for Students

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