stalk

stalk
stalk1
stalklike, adj.
/stawk/, n.
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. Auto. 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.
[1275-1325; ME stalke, appar. equiv. to OE stal(u) stave + -k dim. suffix]
stalk2
stalkable, adj.stalker, n.stalkingly, adv.
/stawk/, v.i.
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. Obs. to walk or go stealthily along.
v.t.
5. to pursue (game, a person, etc.) stealthily.
6. to proceed through (an area) in search of prey or quarry: to stalk the woods for game.
7. to proceed or spread through in a steady or sinister manner: Disease stalked the land.
n.
8. an act or course of stalking quarry, prey, or the like: We shot the mountain goat after a five-hour stalk.
9. a slow, stiff stride or gait.
[1250-1300; ME stalken (v.), repr. the base of OE bestealcian to move stealthily, stealcung stalking (ger.); akin to STEAL]

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • stalk — stalk·able; stalk; stalk·er; stalk·i·ly; stalk·i·ness; stalk·ing·ly; stalk·less; stalk·let; bit·stalk; …   English syllables

  • Stalk — (st[add]k), n. [OE. stalke, fr. AS. st[ae]l, stel, a stalk. See {Stale} a handle, {Stall}.] 1. (Bot.) (a) The stem or main axis of a plant; as, a stalk of wheat, rye, or oats; the stalks of maize or hemp. (b) The petiole, pedicel, or peduncle, of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stalk — Stalk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Stalked} (st[add]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Stalking}.] [AS. st[ae]lcan, stealcian to go slowly; cf. stealc high, elevated, Dan. stalke to stalk; probably akin to 1st stalk.] 1. To walk slowly and cautiously; to walk in a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stalk — Stalk, n. 1. A high, proud, stately step or walk. [1913 Webster] Thus twice before, . . . With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. Shak. [1913 Webster] The which with monstrous stalk behind him stepped. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. The act or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stalk — / stȯk/ vt: to subject to stalking vi: to engage in stalking stalk·er n Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • stalk|y — «ST kee», adjective, stalk|i|er, stalk|i|est. 1. consisting of stalks. 2. abounding in stalks. 3. of the nature of a stalk or stalks; long and slender like a stalk …   Useful english dictionary

  • Stalk — (st[add]k), v. t. 1. To approach under cover of a screen, or by stealth, for the purpose of killing, as game. [1913 Webster] As for shooting a man from behind a wall, it is cruelly like to stalking a deer. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] 2. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stalk — can mean: * loosely, a plant stem, or any structure resembling a plant stem ** more precisely, in botany, the filament of a stamen, pedicel, peduncle, petiole, scape, caudicle or stipe (botany) ** in mycology, a stipe (mycology) is the stem or… …   Wikipedia

  • stalk — Ⅰ. stalk [1] ► NOUN 1) the main stem of a herbaceous plant. 2) the attachment or support of a leaf, flower, or fruit. 3) a slender support or stem. DERIVATIVES stalk like adjective stalky adjective …   English terms dictionary

  • stalk — [n] stem of plant axis, bent, helm, pedicel, pedicle, reed, shaft, spike, spire, support, trunk, twig, upright; concept 428 stalk [v] follow, creep up on ambush, approach, chase, drive, flush out, haunt, hunt, pace, pursue, shadow, striddle,… …   New thesaurus

  • stalk — stalk1 [stôk] vi. [ME stalken < OE stealcian (in comp.) < stealc, high, steep < IE * stelg < base * stel , to place, set up > STILL1, Gr stellein] 1. a) to walk in a stiff, haughty, or grim manner b) to advance or spread grimly… …   English World dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”