stalk

Stalk is defined as a plant's main stem.

(noun)

An example of stalk is the stem on which corn grows.

The definition of stalk is to follow behind someone or behind prey in a harassing or obsessive way.

(verb)

  1. An example of stalk is when a cheetah slowly creeps up on a gazelle.
  2. An example of stalk is when a creepy guy follows around his ex-girlfriend to make sure she isn't dating someone else.

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See stalk in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

    1. to walk in a stiff, haughty, or grim manner
    2. to advance or spread grimly: plague stalks across the land
  1. to pursue or approach game, an enemy, etc. stealthily, as from cover
  2. Obsolete to walk or move along stealthily or furtively

Origin: ME stalken < OE stealcian (in comp.) < stealc, high, steep < IE *stelg- < base *stel-, to place, set up > still, Gr stellein

transitive verb

  1. to pursue or approach (game, prey, etc.) stealthily
  2. to stalk through: terror stalked the streets
  3. to follow or pursue (another person) persistently in a harassing and, typically, obsessive way

noun

  1. a slow, stiff, haughty, or grim stride
  2. the act of stalking game, an enemy, etc.

Related Forms:

noun

  1. any stem or stemlike part, as a slender rod, shaft, or support
  2. Bot.
    1. the main stem or axis of a plant
    2. a lengthened part of a plant on which an organ grows or is supported, as the petiole of a leaf, the peduncle of a flower, etc.
  3. Zool.
    1. a lengthened support for an animal organ
    2. a similar structure supporting a whole animal body, as the peduncle of a goose barnacle

Origin: ME stalke, akin to OE stealc, high, steep < IE *stelg- < base *stel-: see still

Related Forms:

See stalk in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A stem or main axis of a herbaceous plant.
    b. A stem or similar structure that supports a plant part such as a flower, flower cluster, or leaf.
  2. A slender or elongated support or structure, as one that holds up an organ or another body part.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , probably diminutive of stale, upright of a ladder, post, handle

Origin: , from Old English stalu; see stel- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • stalkˈy adjective

verb stalked stalked, stalk·ing, stalks
verb, intransitive
  1. To walk with a stiff, haughty, or angry gait: stalked off in a huff.
  2. To move threateningly or menacingly.
  3. To track prey or quarry.
verb, transitive
  1. To pursue by tracking stealthily.
  2. To follow or observe (a person) persistently, especially out of obsession or derangement.
  3. To go through (an area) in pursuit of prey or quarry.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English stalken

Origin: , from Old English -stealcian, to move stealthily (in bestealcian)

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Related Forms:

  • stalkˈer noun

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