stub

Everyday

1. The short end left after most of something has been used, like a pencil stub or a candle stub. tree →
2. The small part of a ticket or cheque you keep as a record. tree →
3. To hit your toe by accident against something hard. tree →
4. «Stub out» means to put out a cigarette by pressing it down. tree →
5. (computing) A short, unfinished piece of writing or code. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life you «stub your toe» on furniture, which really hurts. A ticket stub proves you paid. In stories a pencil stub shows someone is poor or has written a lot. Phrases: «stub your toe», «ticket stub», «pencil stub», «stub out».

Examples

• I stubbed my toe on the bed and it really hurt. tree →
• I kept the ticket stub from the concert. tree →
• He wrote with a tiny stub of a pencil. tree →
• Only a stub of the candle was left. tree →
• Ouch! I just stubbed my toe on the door. tree →
• Keep the stub as proof that you paid. tree →
• The Wikipedia page was only a stub with two lines. tree →

Note

Double the «b»: stubbed, stubbing. «Stubby» means short and thick. Do not mix up «stub» (short end) with «stud» (a small metal knob or earring).