stalks

IPA/stɔːk/
KK[stˈɔks]IPA/stɑːk/

stalks — noun

  • stalkssingular
  • stalksesplural

1. the tall central growth of a plant that rises from the soil, or the slender sect

1.nounB1
Definition

the tall central growth of a plant that rises from the soil, or the slender section that links a leaf or flower to that growth.

Example

Yumi held up the celery stalk and snapped it in half.

The stalks of the sunflowers bent under the weight of the heavy seeds.

collocation: stalk of [plant]

Common collocations
  • tall stalk
  • thick stalk
  • corn stalk
  • celery stalk
  • rose stalk
Synonyms
  • stem

    the most common general term for the main upright part of a plant

  • trunk

    used for the thick main stem of a tree, not a thin stalk

Common Mistakes

I picked a stalk of the flower.
I picked the flower from its stalk.
a 'stalk' is the part still attached to the plant, not the whole picked flower.

2. in some animals, a thin body part that holds up another body part, such as the s

2.nounB2
Definition

in some animals, a thin body part that holds up another body part, such as the stalk that supports a crab's eye.

Example

The crab has two long stalks with an eye at the tip of each one.

collocation: eye stalk

Yael studied how a crayfish's eye stalks help it see in several directions.

Common collocations
  • eye stalk
  • sensory stalk
  • long stalk
Synonyms
  • peduncle

    the technical term for a stalk-like structure in biology

Usage Note

Common in biology writing; often paired with a specific organ name, e.g. 'eye stalk' or 'sensory stalk'.

3. the act of secretly following a person or animal in order to catch or attack the

3.nounB2
Definition

the act of secretly following a person or animal in order to catch or attack them.

Example

The documentary showed a leopard's stalk of a herd of impalas through the dry grass.

Olivia learned to move silently during a deer stalk in the woods.

collocation: deer stalk

Common collocations
  • careful stalk
  • deer stalk
  • tiger stalk
Synonyms
  • pursuit

    more general — can mean chasing openly rather than secretly

  • hunt

    broader in meaning; a hunt may involve traps or waiting rather than following

Usage Note

Used as both a countable noun (a specific incident) and uncountable noun (the general activity). Distinguish from sense 2 (verb) — this noun form refers to the activity itself, not the act of committing illegal harassment.

4. a way of walking that is stiff, angry, or intended to seem threatening.

4.nounC1
Definition

a way of walking that is stiff, angry, or intended to seem threatening.

Example

The soldier's stalk across the parade ground was stiff and carefully measured.

Ignacio recognised his boss's angry stalk from the hallway and braced himself.

collocation: angry stalk

Common collocations
  • angry stalk
  • threatening stalk
  • slow stalk
  • stiff stalk
Synonyms
  • gait

    a neutral term for a person's way of walking; 'stalk' adds an emotion of anger or threat

  • stride

    implies long, confident steps; 'stalk' suggests stiffness or anger

Usage Note

Almost always used in the singular. Often paired with an adjective such as 'angry', 'stiff', or 'threatening'.

stalks — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe going after someone or something, but they differ in how and why. 'Stalk' (verb/1) specifically means following secretly, staying out of sight, and usually with the intent to catch or harm — it is the most secretive and predatory of the group. 'Pursue' is broader: you can pursue a criminal, a career, or a hobby; it does not require hiding. 'Track' means following clues or signs such as footprints or tyre marks rather than keeping the target in sight; it is common in hunting and investigation. 'Follow' is the most general and everyday word — you can follow a person, a recipe, or a rule, and it carries no implication of secrecy or hostility. For example: 'The tiger stalked the deer through the tall grass.' 'The police tracked the suspect using his phone signal.' 'She pursued a degree in engineering after finishing high school.' 'Yumi followed the tour guide through the museum.'

stalk ↗pursue ↗track ↗follow ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • stalk of celery
  • stalk of corn
  • corn stalk
  • bean stalk

Prepositions

  • stalk after
  • stalk through
  • stalk across
  • stalk out of

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'stalk' in English actually comes from two different older roots that happened to arrive at the same spelling — a pair of homonyms. The noun meaning 'plant stem' comes from Old English 'stalu' (related to 'stela', meaning a post or trunk) and is related to similar words in other Germanic languages. The verb meaning 'to follow stealthily' comes from a separate Old English word, 'stealcian' (to walk stealthily), which is related to the word 'steal'. By the 1500s both forms had settled into the modern spelling 'stalk', but their meanings remained separate.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a Verb