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Definition of stump verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stump

verb
 
/stʌmp/
 
/stʌmp/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they stump
 
/stʌmp/
 
/stʌmp/
he / she / it stumps
 
/stʌmps/
 
/stʌmps/
past simple stumped
 
/stʌmpt/
 
/stʌmpt/
past participle stumped
 
/stʌmpt/
 
/stʌmpt/
-ing form stumping
 
/ˈstʌmpɪŋ/
 
/ˈstʌmpɪŋ/
Phrasal Verbs
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  1. [transitive, usually passive] stump somebody (informal) to ask somebody a question that is too difficult for them to answer or give them a problem that they cannot solve synonym baffle
    • 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.
    Extra Examples
    • At first I was stumped by the question.
    • His condition has stumped experts throughout Europe and the US.
  2. [intransitive] + adv./prep. to walk in a noisy, heavy way, especially because you are angry or upset synonym stomp
    • He stumped off, muttering under his breath.
  3. [intransitive, transitive] + adv./prep. | stump something (North American English) to travel around making political speeches, especially before an election
    • He stumped (around) the country trying to build up support.
  4. [transitive] stump somebody (in cricket) (of a wicketkeeper) to put a batter out of the game by knocking off either of the bails (= the two pieces of wood that bridge the stumps) with the ball, when they are out of the area in which the ball can be hit, but not running
  5. Word OriginMiddle 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’.
See stump in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
previously
adverb
 
 
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