stump

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C] the bottom part of a tree left in the ground after the rest has fallen or been cut down 2 [C] the end of sth or the part that is left after the main part has been cut, broken off or worn away: the stump of a pencil / tooth 3 [C] the short part of sb's leg or arm that is left after the rest has been cut off 4 [C,usually pl.] (in cricket) one of the set of three upright wooden sticks (called the stumps) that form the WICKET: the leg / middle / off stump * The ball went past the batsman and hit the stumps. 5 (the stump) [sing.] (informal, especially AmE) the fact of a politician before an election going to different places and trying to get people's support by making speeches: The senator gave his standard stump speech. * politicians on the stump IDIOMS see STIRv. verb 1 [VN] [usuallypassive] (informal) to ask sb a question that is too difficult for them to answer or give them a problem that they cannot solve: I'm stumped. I don't know how they got here before us. * Farmers are aware of the problem but are stumped by what to do about it. * Kate was stumped for words (= unable to answer). 2 [V+adv./prep.] to walk in a noisy, heavy way, especially because you are angry or upset SYNSTOMP: He stumped off, muttering under his breath. 3 (AmE) to travel around making political speeches, especially before an election: [V, +adv./prep.] He stumped around the country trying to build up support. [also VN] 4 [VN] (in cricket) to put a BATSMAN out of the game by touching the stumps with the ball when he or she is out of the area in which the ball can be hit PHRASALVERBS stump up (for sth)