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stump

Syllabification: (stump)
Pronunciation: /stəmp/

Translate stump | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of stump

noun

  • 1the bottom part of a tree left projecting from the ground after most of the trunk has fallen or been cut down.
  • the small projecting remnant of something that has been cut or broken off or worn away:the stump of an amputated arm
  • 2 Cricket each of the three upright pieces of wood that form a wicket.
  • 3 Art a cylinder with conical ends made of rolled paper or other soft material, used for softening or blending marks made with a crayon or pencil.
  • 4 [as modifier] engaged in or involving political campaigning:he is an inspiring stump speaker
    [referring to the use of a tree stump, from which an orator would speak]

verb

[with object]
  • 1 (usually be stumped) (of a question or problem) be too hard for; baffle:education chiefs were stumped by some of the exam questions
  • (be stumped) be at a loss; be unable to work out what to do or say:detectives are stumped for a reason for the attack
  • 2 [no object] walk stiffly and noisily:he stumped away on short thick legs
  • 3travel around (a district) making political speeches:there is no chance that he will be well enough to stump the country [no object]:the two men had come to the city to stump for the presidential candidate
  • 4use a stump on (a drawing, line, etc.).

Phrases

on the stump

informal engaged in political campaigning.

up a stump

informal in a situation too difficult for one to manage.

Phrasal Verbs

stump something up

British informal pay a sum of money:a buyer would have to stump up at least 8.5 million dollars for the site

Origin:

Middle English (denoting a part of a limb remaining after an amputation): from Middle Low German stump(e) or Middle Dutch stomp. The early sense of the verb was 'stumble'

stump in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of stump in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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