stalk
1 of 3noun (1)
ˈstȯk 
1
: a slender upright object or supporting or connecting part
especially : peduncle
2
a
: the main stem of an herbaceous plant often with its dependent parts
b
: a part of a plant (such as a petiole or stipe) that supports another
stalked
ˈstȯkt
adjective stalkless
ˈstȯk-ləs
adjective stalky
ˈstȯ-kē
adjective stalk
2 of 3verb
stalked; stalking; stalks
intransitive verb
1
: to pursue quarry or prey stealthily
2
: to walk stiffly or haughtily
transitive verb
1
: to pursue by stalking
2
: to go through (an area) in search of prey or quarry
stalk the woods for deer
3
: to pursue obsessively and to the point of harassment
stalk
3 of 3noun (2)
1
: the act of stalking
2
: a stalking gait
Synonyms
Verb
- chase
- hunt
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb a movie about a detective being stalked by a killer This is the time of year when hunters are stalking the woods for deer. She called the police because her ex-boyfriend was stalking her. She angrily stalked out of the room.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English stalke; akin to Old English stela stalk, support
Verb
Middle English, from Old English bestealcian; akin to Old English stelan to steal — more at steal
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing stalk
Kids Definition
stalk 1 of 2
noun
ˈstȯk
1
: a plant stem especially when not woody
stalks of celery
2
: a slender supporting structure
the stalk of a goblet
stalk
2 of 2verb
stalked; stalking
1
: to walk in a stiff or proud manner
He stalked angrily out of the room.
2
: to hunt slowly and quietly
A cat stalked the bird.
Medical Definition
stalk
noun
ˈstȯk
: a slender supporting or connecting part : peduncle
the pituitary stalk
Legal Definition
stalk
transitive verb
ˈstȯk
: to subject to stalking
intransitive verb
: to engage in stalking
stalked
verb
1
as in chased
to seek out (game) for food or sport lions stalking gazelles on the plains Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- chased
- hunted
- trapped
- tracked
- hounded
- snared
- captured
- pursued
- dragged
- killed
- trailed
- hawked
- ferreted
- dogged
- netted
- coursed
- harpooned
- culled
- poached
- shot
- ran
- ran down
- run
- spoored
- gunned (for)
2
as in strutted
to walk with exaggerated arm and leg movements the irate customer stalked off in a huff Synonyms & Similar Words
- strutted
- strode
- pranced
- sashayed
- swaggered
- stepped
- tiptoed
- traipsed
- shuffled
- swept
- flounced
- lurched
- paraded
- promenaded
- paced
- minced
- shambled
- staggered
- padded
- treaded
- trod
- pussyfooted
- lumbered
- pounded
- helichryse
- helichrysum
- helichrysums
- Helicidae
- helicidaes
- heliciform
- helicina
- helicitic
- helicities
- helicline
- heliclines
- helico-
- call (off or out)
- call (on or upon)
- call (someone) on the carpet
- call (something) to order
- call (up)
- call a halt to
- call a spade a spade
- call a time-out
- call at
- call bell
- call bird
- call box
- call button