the lower end of a tree or plant left after the main part falls or is cut off; a standing tree trunk from which the upper part and branches have been removed.
the part of a limb of the body remaining after the rest has been cut off.
a part of a broken or decayed tooth left in the gum.
a short remnant, as of a candle; stub.
any basal part remaining after the main or more important part has been removed.
an artificial leg.
Usually stumps.Informal. legs: Stir your stumps and get out of here.
a short, stocky person.
a heavy step or gait, as of a wooden-legged or lame person.
the figurative place of political speechmaking: to go on the stump.
Furniture. a support for the front end of the arm of a chair, sofa, etc.Compare post1 (def. 2).
a short, thick roll of paper, soft leather, or some similar material, usually having a blunt point, for rubbing a pencil, charcoal, or crayon drawing in order to achieve subtle gradations of tone in representing light and shade.
Cricket. each of the three upright sticks that, with the two bails laid on top of them, form a wicket.
verb (used with object)
to reduce to a stump; truncate; lop.
to clear of stumps, as land.
Chiefly Southern U.S.to stub, as one's toe.
to nonplus, embarrass, or render completely at a loss: This riddle stumps me.
to challenge or dare to do something.
to make political campaign speeches to or in: to stump a state.
Cricket. (of the wicketkeeper) to put (a batsman) out by knocking down a stump or by dislodging a bail with the ball held in the hand at a moment when the batsman is off his ground.
to tone or modify (a crayon drawing, pencil rendering, etc.) by means of a stump.
verb (used without object)
to walk heavily or clumsily, as if with a wooden leg: The captain stumped across the deck.
to make political campaign speeches; electioneer.
Idioms for stump
up a stump, Informal. at a loss; embarrassed; perplexed: Sociologists are up a stump over the sharp rise in juvenile delinquency and crime.
Origin of stump
1200–50; (noun) Middle English stompe, cognate with or <Middle Low German stump(e), Middle Dutch stomp (compare German Stumpf); (v.) Middle English stumpen to stumble (as over a stump), derivative of the noun
As Cochran said on the stump and in ads, he is a pro-life, NRA-endorsed conservative who opposes Obamacare.
How Thad Cochran Pulled Off a Win Over Chris McDaniel (Simple, Really)|Stuart Stevens|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The mortgage they had to work off was a stump; but faith and Luclarion's dairy did it.
Real Folks|Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney
This morning I saw him hold up two fingers, the third crooked, in sign of the remaining "two and a stump."
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
On examination after death, the termination of the vein on the surface of the stump was open, and in a sloughy condition.
On the origin of inflammation of the veins|Henry Lee
Reddy stopped and stood up on his hind legs so as to see if the top of that stump was hollow.
Bowser The Hound|Thornton W. Burgess
Bonaparte, watching his master, ran around the tree again and squatting on his stump of a tail grinned likewise.
The Bishop of Cottontown|John Trotwood Moore
British Dictionary definitions for stump
stump
/ (stʌmp) /
noun
the base part of a tree trunk left standing after the tree has been felled or has fallen
the part of something, such as a tooth, limb, or blade, that remains after a larger part has been removed
informal, facetious
(often plural)a leg
stir one's stumpsto move or become active
cricketany of three upright wooden sticks that, with two bails laid across them, form a wicket (the stumps)
Also called: tortillona short sharply-pointed stick of cork or rolled paper or leather, used in drawing and shading
a heavy tread or the sound of heavy footsteps
a platform used by an orator when addressing a meeting
(often plural)Australiana pile used to support a house
on the stumpmainlyUS and Canadianengaged in campaigning, esp by political speech-making
verb
(tr)to stop, confuse, or puzzle
(intr)to plod or trudge heavily
(tr)cricket(of a fielder, esp a wicketkeeper) to dismiss (a batsman) by breaking his wicket with the ball or with the ball in the hand while he is out of his crease
mainlyUS and Canadianto campaign or canvass (an area), esp by political speech-making
(tr)to reduce to a stump; lop
(tr)to clear (land) of stumps
Derived forms of stump
stumper, noun
Word Origin for stump
C14: from Middle Low German stump; related to Dutch stomp, German Stumpf; see stamp