stalk
stalk (stôk)
intransitive verb
- to walk in a stiff, haughty, or grim manner
- to advance or spread grimly plague stalks across the land
- to pursue or approach game, an enemy, etc. stealthily, as from cover
- Obsolete to walk or move along stealthily or furtively
Etymology: ME stalken < OE stealcian (in comp.) < stealc, high, steep < IE *stelg- < base *stel-, to place, set up > still, Gr stellein
transitive verb
- to pursue or approach (game, prey, etc.) stealthily
- to stalk through terror stalked the streets
- to follow or pursue (another person) persistently in a harassing and, typically, obsessive way
noun
- a slow, stiff, haughty, or grim stride
- the act of stalking game, an enemy, etc.
stalk (stôk)
noun
- any stem or stemlike part, as a slender rod, shaft, or support
- Bot.
- the main stem or axis of a plant
- 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.
- Zool.
- a lengthened support for an animal organ
- a similar structure supporting a whole animal body, as the peduncle of a goose barnacle
Etymology: ME stalke, akin to OE stealc, high, steep < IE *stelg- < base *stel-: see still
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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