Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   stump

   /stʌmp/

   noun

   • 1. the bottom part of a tree left projecting from the ground after most of the trunk has fallen or been cut down.
   • ▪ the small projecting remnant of something that has been cut or broken off or worn away: "the stump of an amputated arm"
   • 2. each of the three upright pieces of wood which form a wicket.
   • ▪ close of play in a cricket match.
   • 3. a cylinder with conical ends made of rolled paper or other soft material, used for softening or blending marks made with a crayon or pencil.
   • 4. used in relation to political campaigning: North American "his jibes at his opponents may have won him some support on the stump early in his campaign"

   verb

   • 1. (of a question or problem) be too hard for; baffle: informal "education chiefs were stumped by some of the exam questions" Similar baffleperplexpuzzleconfuseconfoundbewildermystifynonplusdefeatbe too much forput at a lossbring up shortinformal:flummoxfoxbe all Greek tothrowfloordiscombobulatearchaic:wildergravelmazerare:obfuscate
   • ▪ be at a loss; not know what to do or say: "detectives are stumped for a reason for the attack"
   • 2. walk stiffly and noisily: "he stumped away on short thick legs" Similar stompstampclompclumplumbertrudgeplodthumpthudbangthundersprauchle
   • 3. (of a wicketkeeper) dismiss (a batter) by dislodging the bails with the ball while the batter is out of the crease but not running.
   • 4. travel around (a district) making political speeches: North American "there is no chance that he will be well enough to stump the country"
   • 5. use a stump on (a drawing, line, etc.).

   Word Origin Middle English (denoting a part of a limb remaining after an amputation): from Middle Low German stump(e) or Middle Dutch stomp. The early sense of the verb was ‘stumble’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • S

     1

   • T

     1

   • U

     1

   • M

     3

   • P

     3

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points