stump

noun (1)

\ ˈstəmp

\

Definition of stump

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : the basal portion of a bodily part remaining after the rest is removed

b : a rudimentary or vestigial bodily part

2 : the part of a plant and especially a tree remaining attached to the root after the trunk is cut

3 : a remaining part : stub

4 : one of the pointed rods stuck in the ground to form a cricket wicket

5 : a place or occasion for public speaking (as for a cause or candidate) also : the circuit followed by a maker of such speeches —used especially in the phrase on the stump

stump

verb (1)

stumped; stumping; stumps

Definition of stump (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

1 : to reduce to a stump : trim

2a : dare, challenge

b : to frustrate the progress or efforts of : baffle

3 : to clear (land) of stumps

4 : to travel over (a region) making political speeches or supporting a cause

5a : to walk over heavily or clumsily

b : stub sense 3

intransitive verb

1 : to walk heavily or clumsily

2 : to go about making political speeches or supporting a cause

stump

noun (2)

Definition of stump (Entry 3 of 4)

: a short thick roll of leather, felt, or paper usually pointed at both ends and used for shading or blending a drawing in crayon, pencil, charcoal, pastel, or chalk

stump

verb (2)

stumped; stumping; stumps

Definition of stump (Entry 4 of 4)

transitive verb

: to tone or treat (a drawing) with a stump

First Known Use of stump

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1581, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1778, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1807, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for stump

Noun (1)

Middle English stumpe; akin to Old High German stumpf stump and perhaps to Middle English stampen to stamp

Noun (2)

French or Dutch dialect; French estompe, from Dutch dialect stomp, literally, stub, from Middle Dutch; akin to Old High German stumpf stump

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about stump

Dictionary Entries near stump

Statistics for stump

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for stump

The first known use of stump was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for stump

stump

noun

\ ˈstəmp

\

Kids Definition of stump

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the part of a tree that remains in the ground after the tree is cut down

2 : the part of something (as a tooth or a pencil) that remains after the rest has been removed, lost, or worn away : stub

stump

verb

stumped; stumping

Kids Definition of stump (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : perplex, baffle My question stumped the experts.

2 : to walk or walk over heavily, stiffly, or clumsily as if with a wooden leg

stump

noun

\ ˈstəmp

\

Medical Definition of stump

1 : the basal portion of a bodily part (as a limb) remaining after the rest is removed

2 : a rudimentary or vestigial bodily part

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

substantive

important, real, or meaningful

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.

poal pol
pole poll

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games