Word
stumps
US/ˈstəmps/
UK/stˈʌmps/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the bottom part of a tree that stays in the ground after the top is cut down. You can also use this word for the three wooden sticks used in the game of cricket.
n. the basal portion of a tree remaining in the ground after the trunk has been severed. In a sporting context, refers to the three vertical posts that form the wicket in cricket.
Examples
“We sat on the old tree stumps to eat our lunch.”
“The field was dotted with blackened stumps after the forest fire swept through the valley.”
“The bowler successfully knocked over the middle stump, ending the batsman's long innings just before the tea break.”
Examples
simple
“We sat on the old tree stumps to eat our lunch.”
contextual
“The field was dotted with blackened stumps after the forest fire swept through the valley.”
complex
“The bowler successfully knocked over the middle stump, ending the batsman's long innings just before the tea break.”
Usage
Commonly used in the plural when referring to a cleared area of forest or the set of sticks in cricket.
Real-World Examples
“Native grasses are cut down to sad little stumps.” “The basics of Test cricket generally work and that's to hit the top of the stumps.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
01. call it stumps
02. draw stumps
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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