From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstumpstump1 /stʌmp/ noun [countable] 1 HBPthe bottom part of a tree that is left in the ground after the rest of it has been cut down an old tree stump2 HBHthe short part of someone’s leg, arm etc that remains after the rest of it has been cut off3 REMAIN/BE LEFTthe small useless part of something that remains after most of it has broken off or worn away There was only a stump of the candle left.4 DSCone of the three upright sticks in cricket that you throw the ball at5 → stump speech/speaker6 → be on the stump
Examples from the Corpus
stump• All that was left was a stump of what used to be a statue.• He looked down, and saw the planks beneath his shoe and stump turn transparent.• They campaigned for Hardaway while the Adelman ticket delivered a persuasive stump speech.• You have to trench around the stump and sever all the roots.• It involves cutting down the main trunk to encourage new growth from the edge of the stump.• The stump she sits on is as dead as she is blind.• They said they brought the tree stump to Riggs' office as a symbol of protest.tree stump• His left leg was almost severed when it was caught in the whirling blade of a tree stump cutter.• The elder female sank down on a tree stump to rest, fanning herself with her hand.• Alligator saw; a tree stump chipper; and even a bouncy castle!• We were going to the thick grove of woods with the carved tree stumps in its center.• Clearing two acres of tree stumps so a garden could be planted in the spring.• They said they brought the tree stump to Riggs' office as a symbol of protest.stumpstump2 verb 1 [transitive]ASK A QUESTION if you are stumped by a question or problem, you are unable to find an answer to it a case that has stumped the police The doctors were stumped and had to call in a specialist.Grammar Stump is usually passive in this meaning.2 [intransitive]WALK to walk with heavy steps SYN stompstump up/along/across etc He stumped down the hall.3 [transitive]DSC to put a batsman out of the game in cricket by touching the stumps with the ball when he is out of the hitting area4 [intransitive, transitive] American EnglishPP to travel around an area, meeting people and making speeches in order to gain political support Alexander has been stumping in New Hampshire. → stump up (something)→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
stump• No, we were stumped for questions to ask.• He was stumped for the second time in the match against the left-arm spin of Hettiarachchi.• He loves it when we stump him, when he has to go look up something.• Harkin plans to stump in Illinois this weekend.• He stumped like an old man.• The case has stumped the police for months.• Carroll Campbell, both Republicans, are stumping the state on behalf of Sen.• City must stump up the cash and planned to watch Viscaal yesterday against Mechelin.• You read the reviews, make up your mind and stump up the cash.stump up/along/across etc• Private firms are expected to stump up £400 million of the Pounds 1.8 billion cost of the 10-mile route.• Despite poor trading, the bank stumped up another £70,000 for a second premises in Chelsea last year.• He has asked the bank's 160,000 shareholders to stump up another 90 billion roubles to finance modernisation.• Last year 1,050 people lost the right to call themselves chartered accountants because they didn't stump up by 30 June.• City must stump up the cash and planned to watch Viscaal yesterday against Mechelin.• They're hoping retired people, or those looking for a second home in the country will stump up the cash.• You read the reviews, make up your mind and stump up the cash.• A&M have left them to it, stumping up the money for recording and a sampler along the way.Origin stump1 (1200-1300) Middle Low German 