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View synonyms for

stalk

1

[stawk]

noun

  1. the stem or main axis of a plant.

  2. any slender supporting or connecting part of a plant, as the petiole of a leaf, the peduncle of a flower, or the funicle of an ovule.

  3. a similar structural part of an animal.

  4. a stem, shaft, or slender supporting part of anything.

  5. Automotive.a slender lever, usually mounted on or near the steering wheel, that is used by the driver to control a signal or function.

    The horn button is on the turn-signal stalk.



stalk

2

[stawk]

verb (used without object)

  1. to pursue or approach prey, quarry, etc., stealthily.

  2. to walk with measured, stiff, or haughty strides.

    He was so angry he stalked away without saying goodbye.

  3. to proceed in a steady, deliberate, or sinister manner.

    Famine stalked through the nation.

  4. Obsolete.to walk or go stealthily along.

verb (used with object)

  1. to pursue (game, a person, etc.) stealthily.

  2. to proceed through (an area) in search of prey or quarry.

    to stalk the woods for game.

  3. to proceed or spread through in a steady or sinister manner.

    Disease stalked the land.

noun

  1. an act or course of stalking quarry, prey, or the like.

    We shot the mountain goat after a five-hour stalk.

  2. a slow, stiff stride or gait.

stalk

1

/ ɔː /

noun

  1. the main stem of a herbaceous plant

  2. any of various subsidiary plant stems, such as a leafstalk (petiole) or flower stalk (peduncle)

  3. a slender supporting structure in animals such as crinoids and certain protozoans, coelenterates, and barnacles

  4. any long slender supporting shaft or column

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

stalk

2

/ ɔː /

verb

  1. to follow or approach (game, prey, etc) stealthily and quietly

  2. to pursue persistently and, sometimes, attack (a person with whom one is obsessed, often a celebrity)

  3. to spread over (a place) in a menacing or grim manner

    fever stalked the camp

  4. (intr) to walk in a haughty, stiff, or threatening way

    he stalked out in disgust

  5. to search or draw (a piece of land) for prey

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of stalking

  2. a stiff or threatening stride

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

stalk

  1. The main stem of a plant.

  2. A slender structure that supports a plant part, such as a flower or leaf.

  3. A slender supporting structure in certain other organisms, such as the reproductive structure in plasmodial slime molds or the part of a mushroom below the cap.

  4. A slender supporting or connecting part of an animal, such as the eyestalk of a lobster.

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Other Word Forms

  • stalklike adjective
  • stalkable adjective
  • stalker noun
  • ˈٲˌ adjective
  • ˈٲ adjective
  • stalked adjective
  • ˈٲ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stalk1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English stalk(e), apparently equivalent to Old English stal(u) “stave” + -k diminutive suffix; akin to Norwegian dialect stalk, Swedish stjelk, Danish stilk

Origin of stalk2

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb stalken, representing the base of Old English bestealcian “to move stealthily”; akin to steal
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stalk1

C14: probably a diminutive formed from Old English stalu upright piece of wood; related to Old Frisian staal handle

Origin of stalk2

Old English bestealcian to walk stealthily; related to Middle Low German stolkeren , Danish stalke
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Mr Masum has denied a charge of murder, assault by beating, making a threat to kill and stalking.

From

If convicted, Cui and Miller face up to five years in prison for conspiracy, five years for interstate stalking, 20 for violating the Arms Export Control Act and 10 years for smuggling.

From

I mean, I’m so proud of all of it, but — and I’m certainly not going to stalk them for the rest of my life because I miss them so much.

From

Masum also denies two charges of assault, one count of making threats to kill and one charge of stalking.

From

John Miller, 63, and a Chinese man, Cui Guanghai, are wanted by the FBI on charges relating to conspiracy to commit interstate stalking and conspiracy, smuggling and violations of the Arms Control Act.

From

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