Definition

1. Noun:

   • A short remaining piece: The small, unused part of something, especially after the main part has been used, broken, or removed.
   • A record-keeping part: The part of a ticket or check that is kept as a receipt or record after the main part is torn off or used.
   • A short projection: A short, blunt part of something that remains, such as a stem or a broken object.

2. Verb:

   • To strike accidentally: To hit one's toe or foot against an object by accident.
   • To extinguish by pressing: To put out a cigarette or similar item by crushing its end against a surface.
   • To clear by uprooting: To remove weeds or plants by pulling them out, including their roots.

Examples

• Noun:

  • He flicked the cigarette stub into the ashtray.
  • Keep the ticket stub for your records.
  • Only a stub of the pencil remained after he sharpened it.

• Verb:

  • I stubbed my toe on the leg of the table.
  • Please stub out your cigarette before entering the building.
  • The gardener stubbed the weeds from the flower bed.

Advanced Usage

• "to stub out": To extinguish a cigarette or cigar by pressing the burning end against a hard surface.

  • The sign asked patrons to completely stub out their cigarettes.

• "to be/get stubbed": To be accidentally struck against something (typically used for toes).

  • My toe got stubbed on the doorframe, and it really hurt.

Variants and Related Words

• Stubby (adj): Short and thick or blunt.

  • He held a stubby pencil in his hand.

• Check stub / Ticket stub (n): The detachable part of a check or ticket kept for record-keeping.

  • The accountant filed all the check stubs.

Synonyms

• Noun: End, butt, remnant, fragment, tail.
• Verb: Strike, bump, extinguish, snuff, uproot.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Stub out: To extinguish a cigarette or similar item by crushing it.
  • He stubbed out his cigar in the sand.

Related Idioms

• To be on the stub end of something: (Informal) To be in an unfavorable or disadvantaged position, often receiving the short end of a situation. (Note: This is a less common, figurative extension based on the idea of a "stub" being a short, undesirable remnant.)
  • After the reorganization, our department was on the stub end of the budget allocations.

Noun

1. the small unused part of something (especially the end of a cigarette that is left after smoking)
2. the part of a check that is retained as a record
3. a torn part of a ticket returned to the holder as a receipt
4. a small piece
   • a nub of coal
   • a stub of a pencil
5. a short piece remaining on a trunk or stem where a branch is lost

Verb

1. strike (one's toe) accidentally against an object
   • She stubbed her toe in the dark and now it's broken
2. clear of weeds by uprooting them
   • stub a field
3. extinguish by crushing
   • stub out your cigarette now
4. pull up (weeds) by their roots