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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.

stalk¹ Related Forms
stalker noun stalk·ing noun
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

stalk² Related Forms
stalked adjective stalk·less adjective
stalk Synonyms

stalk

n.

stalk Synonyms

stalk

v.

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

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.
  • polyp: The abnormal cells first invade the stalk of the polyp, then the underlying tissue of the colon to which the stalk is attached.

Object

  • corridor: But he does not yet seem to be stalking any town hall corridors.
  • deer: Let's face it, nobody really wants to stalk deer.
  • prey: Now and then there also small herons here, once more ridiculously tame, and only concerned about their chances of stalking prey.
  • carp: Whilst you can stalk carp on some waters most of the time, these conditions really make life a lot easier.

Converse of object

  • discard: Strain off the liquid from the casserole and discard the parsley stalks, orange zest and bay leaf.
  • chop: The combine picks up the rows and harvests the seed, chopping the stalks and spreading them as it goes along.
  • trim: Trim the stalks to roughly the same length to ensure even cooking and tie in bunches of 6-8 stems.

Adjective modifier

  • slender: The flowers grow on long, slender stalks, which makes it possible to make daisy chains.
  • pituitary: The portal vessels run down the pituitary stalk ( infundibulum ) to arrive at the pituitary gland.
  • flowering: The flowers are first produced on the bottom of the flowering stalk or raceme.
  • tall: Then she put the basket among the tall stalks of grass at the edge of the Nile River.
  • thick: They grow in closely packed rows on a tall, thick stalk, and have a pungent, slightly bitter flavor.

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.
  • celery: Meanwhile, chop 1 red onion, dice 3 ripe tomatoes and 2 celery stalks.
  • parsley: Strain off the liquid from the casserole and discard the parsley stalks, orange zest and bay leaf.
  • leaf: The leaf stalks are up to 5 cm long with 2 large gland s at the leaf end.
  • asparagus: Slice the washed asparagus stalks finely, setting the tips aside.
  • cabbage: This applies to soft vegetables as well as tougher wastes such as cabbage stalks or twiggy material.

Browse dictionary entries near stalk

  1. Stalinsk
  2. Stalino
  3. Stalingrad
  4. Stalinabad
  5. Stalin
  6. stalemate
  7. stale
  8. stalagmite
  9. stalag
  10. stalactite
  1. stalk-eyed
  2. stalking
  3. stalking-horse
  4. stalky
  5. stall
  6. stall-feed
  7. stallion
  8. Stallman, Richard
  9. stalwart
  10. Stamboul