stub: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to informal. The verb meaning 'to strike one's toe' is colloquial/informal.
Quick answer
What does “stub” mean?
A short remaining piece of something longer, often broken or cut off.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A short remaining piece of something longer, often broken or cut off; the truncated end of a ticket, cheque, or receipt kept as a record.
In computing: a placeholder routine or object providing minimal functionality. In a broader sense: any truncated or incomplete object. As a verb: to strike one's toe accidentally against a solid object.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both noun and verb meanings are shared. The verb form for extinguishing a cigarette ('stub it out') is perhaps slightly more common in UK narratives.
Connotations
Similar in both. Can imply carelessness (verb: stubbing a toe) or a deliberate administrative or safety action (noun: keeping a stub; verb: stubbing out a cigarette).
Frequency
Comparably frequent. The 'ticket stub' sense is universal. The 'stub one's toe' sense is common in everyday speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “stub” in a Sentence
stub [noun] outstub one's [body part] on/against [object]keep/hold/retain the stubVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stub” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- Keep the ticket stub for re-entry.
- The cheque stub showed the remaining balance.
American English
- He saved the pay stub for his taxes.
- She wrote the number on the stub of the receipt.
verb
British English
- He stubbed out his cigarette angrily.
- I stubbed my toe on the kerb.
American English
- She stubbed her toe on the coffee table.
- He quickly stubbed the cigar in the ashtray.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Pay stub (US)/Payslip stub (UK): the part of a cheque or pay advice kept for records.
Academic
Used descriptively in archaeology ('a pottery stub'), computing ('a method stub').
Everyday
Losing a ticket stub at the cinema, hurting your foot on the bedframe.
Technical
Computing: a stub function; telecommunications: a stub network.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stub”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stub”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stub”
- Using 'stamp' instead of 'stub' for a ticket part. Incorrectly using the verb for a hand ('stub my finger' is less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, primarily. In British English, 'payslip' is more common, though 'payslip stub' might be understood.
Rarely in modern usage. Historically, 'stub' could modify nouns like 'stub pen' (a short pen), but it's now archaic.
They are often synonyms for the part of a cheque or ticket. 'Counterfoil' is more formal and specifically British, while 'stub' is more general and used in both regions.
No, it's an informal, colloquial expression for an accidental, minor injury.
A short remaining piece of something longer, often broken or cut off.
Stub: in British English it is pronounced /stʌb/, and in American English it is pronounced /stəb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stub your toe on reality (figurative: encounter an unexpected obstacle)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STUmp of a tree, but it's a stUB - both are short, leftover pieces.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUNCATION IS A STUB (e.g., a stub of a pencil, a stub of an idea). PAINFUL INTERRUPTION IS STUBBING A TOE (e.g., stubbing progress on a technicality).
Practice
Quiz
In computing, what is a 'stub'?