stump

C1 · Advanced Politics American English

v. to travel around an area making speeches to get people to vote for you.

v. to tour a region making political speeches during an election cycle. Transitive when referring to the area covered.

“The candidate is stumping across the state to win over rural voters.”

“The senator spent the final weeks of October stumping through the industrial heartland to shore up support among union members.”

C2 · Proficiency Literary

v. to walk with heavy, noisy steps.

v. to walk with a heavy, stiff, or clumsy gait, often suggesting frustration or physical effort.

“He stumped up the wooden stairs in his heavy boots.”

“Frustrated by the delay, the manager stumped out of the meeting room without saying another word.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the short part of a tree that stays in the ground after the top is cut off.

n. the basal portion of a tree or plant left protruding from the ground after the trunk has been severed.

“We sat on an old tree stump to eat our lunch in the woods.”

“The field was dotted with blackened stumps where the ancient forest had been cleared for grazing land.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports British English

n. one of the three wooden sticks that a player stands in front of in cricket.

n. one of the three vertical posts which, together with the bails, form the wicket.

“The ball hit the stumps and the crowd cheered.”

“The bowler delivered a perfect yorker that sent the middle stump flying out of the ground.”