stalk

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a plant's main stem, or another slender structure that supports an attached part

   The dry thistle stalk snapped in the wind.

2. 2
   verb

   to follow a person or animal quietly and persistently, especially to hunt, watch, or harass them

   The leopard began to stalk its prey through the tall grass.

3. 3
   verb

   to walk with long, stiff, or angry steps

   She stalked out of the meeting without another word.

Common collocations

• corn stalk Noun + noun

The plant noun comes from Middle English stalke, related to Germanic words for a stem or support. The verb comes from Old English stealcian ("move stealthily"); its hunting sense led to the modern meaning of persistently following a person, while a related idea of stiff movement produced the long-striding sense.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images