Definition of: stump

(stump) noun
1. That portion of the trunk of a tree left standing when the tree is felled.
2. The part of anything, as of a limb, that remains when the main part has been removed; a stumplike part; a stub.
3. plural Colloq. The legs: chiefly in the phrase to stir one's stumps.
4. A place or platform where a stump speech is made; hence, any place or platform from which speeches are made; also, political haranguing.
5. Colloq. A challenge; a dare.
6. In cricket, any one of the three posts (the off stump, the middle stump, and the leg stump) forming the wicket.
7. A pencil–like soft leather or rubber bar, with conical ends, used to soften drawings of crayon or charcoal or to apply powdered pigments.
8. A short, thick–set person or animal.
9. A heavy step; a clump.
—to be up a stump To be in trouble or in a dilemma.
—to take the stump To electioneer in a political campaign.
—adjective
1. Being or resembling a stump; stumpy.
2. Of or pertaining to political oratory or campaigning: a stump speaker, stump speech.
—v.t.
1. To reduce to a stump; truncate; lop.
2. To remove stumps from (land).
3. To canvass (a district) by making political speeches: The candidate stumped the State.
4. Colloq. To challenge, as to a contest; dare; defy.
5. Colloq. To bring to a halt by real or fancied obstacles; nonplus; baffle.
6. To strike against an obstacle; stub, as one's toe.
7. To shade (a drawing) by rubbing with a stump (def. 7).
—v.i.
8. To go about on or as on stumps; hence, to walk heavily, noisily, and stiffly; hobble. [<MLG]