I. stump 1 /stʌmp/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Middle Low German ]
1 . the bottom part of a tree that is left in the ground after the rest of it has been cut down:
an old tree stump
2 . the short part of someone’s leg, arm etc that remains after the rest of it has been cut off
3 . the small useless part of something that remains after most of it has broken off or worn away:
There was only a stump of the candle left.
4 . one of the three upright sticks in ↑ cricket that you throw the ball at
5 . stump speech/speaker American English a speech made by a politician who is travelling around in order to gain political support, or the politician who gives this speech
6 . be on the stump British English to be travelling around an area, making speeches in order to gain political support
II. stump 2 BrE AmE verb
1 . [transitive usually passive] if you are stumped by a question or problem, you are unable to find an answer to it:
a case that has stumped the police
The doctors were stumped and had to call in a specialist.
2 . [intransitive] to walk with heavy steps SYN stomp
stump up/along/across etc
He stumped down the hall.
3 . [transitive] to put a ↑ batsman out of the game in ↑ cricket by touching the stumps with the ball when he is out of the hitting area
4 . [intransitive and transitive] American English to travel around an area, meeting people and making speeches in order to gain political support:
Alexander has been stumping in New Hampshire.
stump up (something) phrasal verb British English informal
to pay money, even if it is difficult or when you do not want to:
We stumped up eight quid each.