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stalk1 definition

stalk (stôk)

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

Etymology: 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:

stalk2 definition

stalk (stôk)

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

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

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
stalk Synonyms

stalk

n.


stalk

v.

approach stealthily, track, chase, shadow; see hunt 1, pursue 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

stalk Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • celery: Some purists claim it's tacky to garnish a Bloody Mary with a stalk of celery instead of the traditional swizzle stick.

Object

  • deer: Let's face it, nobody really wants to stalk deer.

Converse of object

  • discard: Strain off the liquid from the casserole and discard the parsley stalks, orange zest and bay leaf.

Adjective modifier

  • slender: The flowers grow on long, slender stalks, which makes it possible to make daisy chains.

Noun used with modifier

  • yarrow: Now, we take the planets and stars as our language, rather than cards or yarrow stalks or lines on the hands.
stalk usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"stalk." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/stalk>

APA Style

stalk. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/stalk

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