stub
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /stʌb/
KK: /stʌb/
noun
Definition
A small piece that remains after a larger part has been used or removed, such as the end of a pencil or a ticket that is kept as a record.
Example
After finishing the pencil, only a small stub was left.
Conversation
Did you keep the stub from that concert ticket we went to?
Yeah, I still have it! It’s a nice reminder of the night.
I wish I had saved mine too, it was such a great show.
You should definitely keep the stub next time; it makes for a cool keepsake.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
remnant
fragment
leftover
Antonyms
whole
entirety
complete
transitive verb
Definition
To remove or destroy something by cutting it off or pulling it out, often referring to plants or cigarettes.
Example
He decided to stub out his cigarette before entering the building.
Tense Forms
Past: stubbed
Past Participle: stubbed
Conversation
I spent all afternoon trying to stub out those weeds in the garden.
Wow, that sounds like a lot of work!
Yeah, I really need to stub them before they take over everything.
Root Explanation
The word 'stub' originates from Middle English 'stubbe', meaning a stump or a part that remains after the main part has been removed. It is related to the Old English 'stub', which also referred to a stump or a remnant of something that has been cut off.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'stump' left behind after cutting down a tree — that's what a 'stub' refers to, a remnant of something that has been removed.
Visually Confused Words
strub
tub
sub
stu