stump

1 noun (C)

1 TREE the bottom part of a tree that is left in the ground after the rest of it has been cut down; tree stump

2 SOMETHING BROKEN the small useless part of something that remains after most of it has broken off or worn away: the stump of a broken tooth

3 ARM/LEG the short part of someone's leg, arm etc that remains after the rest of it has been cut off

4 IN SPORT one of the three upright sticks in cricket (2) that you throw the ball at

5 stump speech AmE a speech made while travelling around to get political support

2 verb

1 (T) to ask someone such a difficult question that they are completely unable to think of an answer: trying to stump the teacher | be stumped: Nobody knows - even the experts are stumped. | get/have sb stumped: This question'll have them all stumped.

2 (intransitive + up/along/across) to walk with heavy steps; stomp

3 (T) to put a batsman out of the game in cricket (2) by touching the stumps with the ball when he is out of the hitting area

4 (I, T) AmE to travel around an area, meeting people and making speeches in order to gain political support: I'm too old to keep stumping around the state.

stump up phrasal verb (intransitive transitive) BrE informal to pay money, even if it is difficult: That's ten quid you owe me. Come on, stump up.