STUMP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stump mean? 

• STUMP (noun)
  The noun STUMP has 4 senses:

1. the base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled

2. the part of a limb or tooth that remains after the rest is removed

3. (cricket) any of three upright wooden posts that form the wicket

4. a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it

  Familiarity information: STUMP used as a noun is uncommon.

• STUMP (verb)
  The verb STUMP has 4 senses:

1. cause to be perplexed or confounded

2. walk heavily

3. travel through a district and make political speeches

4. remove tree stumps from

  Familiarity information: STUMP used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STUMP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

stump; tree stump

Hypernyms ("stump" is a kind of...):

plant part; plant structure (any part of a plant or fungus)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stump"):

stool ((forestry) the stump of a tree that has been felled or headed for the production of saplings)

Holonyms ("stump" is a part of...):

tree (a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms)

Derivation:

stump (remove tree stumps from)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The part of a limb or tooth that remains after the rest is removed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("stump" is a kind of...):

body part (any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity)

Holonyms ("stump" is a part of...):

tooth (hard bonelike structures in the jaws of vertebrates; used for biting and chewing or for attack and defense)

limb (one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(cricket) any of three upright wooden posts that form the wicket

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("stump" is a kind of...):

post (an upright consisting of a piece of timber or metal fixed firmly in an upright position)

Domain category:

cricket (a game played with a ball and bat by two teams of 11 players; teams take turns trying to score runs)

Holonyms ("stump" is a part of...):

grille; lattice; wicket (small opening (like a window in a door) through which business can be transacted)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

ambo; dais; podium; pulpit; rostrum; soapbox; stump

Hypernyms ("stump" is a kind of...):

platform (a raised horizontal surface)

• STUMP (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they stump    ... he / she / it stumps   
Past simple: stumped   
Past participle: stumped   
-ing form: stumping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to be perplexed or confounded

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

mix up; stump

Context example:

This problem stumped her

Hypernyms (to "stump" is one way to...):

amaze; baffle; beat; bewilder; dumbfound; flummox; get; gravel; mystify; nonplus; perplex; pose; puzzle; stick; stupefy; vex (be a mystery or bewildering to)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to stump Sue

Derivation:

stumper (a particularly difficult or baffling question or problem)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Walk heavily

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

stamp; stomp; stump

Context example:

The men stomped through the snow in their heavy boots

Hypernyms (to "stump" is one way to...):

walk (use one's feet to advance; advance by steps)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

The children stump to the playground

Sense 3

Meaning:

Travel through a district and make political speeches

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

the candidate stumped the Northeast

Hypernyms (to "stump" is one way to...):

campaign; run (run, stand, or compete for an office or a position)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Remove tree stumps from

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

stump a field

Hypernyms (to "stump" is one way to...):

clear (remove)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

stump (the base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled)

 Context examples 

I make fast to this stump, and so you have bridge.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"It is a mere stump—a ghastly sight! Don't you think so, Jane?"

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

If you will be pleased to sit upon that stump, we will now continue our exercise.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

By it he laid the box of matches and the stump of a candle.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Scientists have been stumped as to why temperatures in Jupiter’s upper atmosphere are comparable to those found at Earth, yet Jupiter is more than five times the distance from the sun.

(Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Likely a Massive Heat Source, NASA)

He is always asked by the State Committee to go out on stump during campaign.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

To this Cherokee responded by vigorous wagging of the stump of his tail.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“I can still work my fin, Stone,” said he, putting his hand across to the stump of his arm.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

While the other colonies in the region have bounced back, the one on Pig Island continues to decline, stumping scientists.

(Study: World's Largest King Penguin Colony Declines Sharply, VOA)

There used to be a very old one over yonder but it was struck by lightning ten years ago, and we cut down the stump.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)