stump
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to ask someone a question that they cannot answer because it is too difficult.
v.to baffle or pose a challenge that an individual is unable to resolve. Often used in the passive voice.
Simple“The last question on the math exam completely stumped me.”
In context“Even the most experienced engineers were stumped by the intermittent power failure in the backup systems.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The candidate is stumping across the state to win over rural voters.”
In context“The senator spent the final weeks of October stumping through the industrial heartland to shore up support among union members.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to walk with heavy, noisy steps.
v.to walk with a heavy, stiff, or clumsy gait, often suggesting frustration or physical effort.
Simple“He stumped up the wooden stairs in his heavy boots.”
In context“Frustrated by the delay, the manager stumped out of the meeting room without saying another word.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
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.
Simple“We sat on an old tree stump to eat our lunch in the woods.”
In context“The field was dotted with blackened stumps where the ancient forest had been cleared for grazing land.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“The ball hit the stumps and the crowd cheered.”
In context“The bowler delivered a perfect yorker that sent the middle stump flying out of the ground.”
Synonyms
From Middle English stumpe, stompe (“stump”), from or akin to Middle Low German stump (“stump”) or Middle Dutch stomp, from Old Saxon or Old Dutch stump, from Proto-West Germanic stump, from Proto-Germanic *stumpaz (“stump, blunt, part cut off”). Cognate with Middle Dutch stomp (“stump”), Old High German stumph (“stump”) (German Stumpf), Old Norse stumpr (“stump”). More at stop.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.