stalk
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishPlants, Daily lifestalkstalk1 /stɔːk $ stɒːk/ noun [countable]1
HBPa long narrow part of a plant that supports leaves, fruits, or flowerscelery stalks2 DTHIN OBJECT OR MATERIALa thin upright object3 → somebody’s eyes are out on stalksExamples from the Corpusstalk• But tonight he would like to have something equivalent to a stalk of bananas to purchase, circa 1910.• The column stalks are fine: indicators, lights and horn on the left, wipers on the right.• Two flowers usually develop on each stalk.• One parent plant can provide up to twenty new ones from four to five stalks during the vegetative period.• If possible, flowers from different floral stalks should be used.• He was now holding long stalks of fresh herbs which he dipped into the Holy Water.• Put the mushrooms to one side and chop the stalks.• Peel and quarter the stalks lengthways.• The next time up the stalk, Jack stole a hen that laid golden eggs. stalkstalk2 verb1 [transitive]FOLLOW to follow a person or animal quietly in order to catch and attack or kill them → shadowa tiger stalking its preyWe know the rapist stalks his victims at night.► see thesaurus at follow 2 [transitive] to follow and watch someone over a long period of time in a way that is very annoying or threatening, and that is considered a crime in some placesShe was stalked by an obsessed fan.3 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]WALK to walk in a proud or angry way, with long stepsstalk out/off/awayYvonne turned and stalked out of the room in disgust. 4 [transitive] literary if something bad stalks a place, you see or feel it everywhere in that placeFear stalks every dark stairwell and walkway.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpusstalk• The cats stalked a paper bag.• I stalked amongst the booths and ramshackle dwellings built against the wall.• Sheffield was forced to move because he was stalked for two to three months early last season.• The House Committee on Assassinations found in 1978 that you stalked my father for over a year?• She stalked off across the road, her hat jammed firmly on her head and her mouth set in a mutinous line.• Polar bears stalk seals that are resting on the ice.• History stalks the Kremlin: Khrushchev fell 25 years ago, and the parallels with today are stark.• Thus stereotypes that had confidently been buried with stakes through their hearts rose up to stalk women once more.• Police are making more effort to catch criminals who stalk women.stalk out/off/away• Finally, my temper spent, I stalked away.• She stalked off across the road, her hat jammed firmly on her head and her mouth set in a mutinous line.• She waited until it had stalked away before picking up the remains of the Geiger-Muller counter and dropping them into the holdall.• She stalks out of the locker room and into a knot of sports reporters.• Yvonne turned and stalked out of the room in disgust.• With that, he stalked out of the room.• Jody stalked off the court looking for the culprits.• She stalked off to her trailer, but he could see by her walk that she was feeling better.• I turned and stalked away to the servants' quarters.Origin stalk1 (1300-1400) Perhaps from stale “step of a ladder, long handle” ((11-19 centuries)), from Old English stalu stalk2 Old English bestealcian
HBPa long narrow part of a plant that supports leaves, fruits, or flowerscelery stalks2 DTHIN OBJECT OR MATERIALa thin upright object3 → somebody’s eyes are out on stalksExamples from the Corpusstalk• But tonight he would like to have something equivalent to a stalk of bananas to purchase, circa 1910.• The column stalks are fine: indicators, lights and horn on the left, wipers on the right.• Two flowers usually develop on each stalk.• One parent plant can provide up to twenty new ones from four to five stalks during the vegetative period.• If possible, flowers from different floral stalks should be used.• He was now holding long stalks of fresh herbs which he dipped into the Holy Water.• Put the mushrooms to one side and chop the stalks.• Peel and quarter the stalks lengthways.• The next time up the stalk, Jack stole a hen that laid golden eggs. stalkstalk2 verb1 [transitive]FOLLOW to follow a person or animal quietly in order to catch and attack or kill them → shadowa tiger stalking its preyWe know the rapist stalks his victims at night.► see thesaurus at follow 2 [transitive] to follow and watch someone over a long period of time in a way that is very annoying or threatening, and that is considered a crime in some placesShe was stalked by an obsessed fan.3 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]WALK to walk in a proud or angry way, with long stepsstalk out/off/awayYvonne turned and stalked out of the room in disgust. 4 [transitive] literary if something bad stalks a place, you see or feel it everywhere in that placeFear stalks every dark stairwell and walkway.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpusstalk• The cats stalked a paper bag.• I stalked amongst the booths and ramshackle dwellings built against the wall.• Sheffield was forced to move because he was stalked for two to three months early last season.• The House Committee on Assassinations found in 1978 that you stalked my father for over a year?• She stalked off across the road, her hat jammed firmly on her head and her mouth set in a mutinous line.• Polar bears stalk seals that are resting on the ice.• History stalks the Kremlin: Khrushchev fell 25 years ago, and the parallels with today are stark.• Thus stereotypes that had confidently been buried with stakes through their hearts rose up to stalk women once more.• Police are making more effort to catch criminals who stalk women.stalk out/off/away• Finally, my temper spent, I stalked away.• She stalked off across the road, her hat jammed firmly on her head and her mouth set in a mutinous line.• She waited until it had stalked away before picking up the remains of the Geiger-Muller counter and dropping them into the holdall.• She stalks out of the locker room and into a knot of sports reporters.• Yvonne turned and stalked out of the room in disgust.• With that, he stalked out of the room.• Jody stalked off the court looking for the culprits.• She stalked off to her trailer, but he could see by her walk that she was feeling better.• I turned and stalked away to the servants' quarters.Origin stalk1 (1300-1400) Perhaps from stale “step of a ladder, long handle” ((11-19 centuries)), from Old English stalu stalk2 Old English bestealcian