stubble

IPA/ˈstʌbl/
KK[stˈʌbəl]IPA/ˈstʌbl/

stubble — noun

1. very short rough facial hair that appears after a man misses shaving for a day o

1.nounB2
Definition

very short rough facial hair that appears after a man misses shaving for a day or two

Example

By Friday afternoon, Owen had dark stubble along his jaw again.

dark stubble along the jaw

After three days on the trail, Samir's stubble made him look older.

Common collocations
  • dark stubble
  • heavy stubble
  • stubble along his jaw
  • designer stubble
Synonyms
  • facial hair

    broader term that includes beards, moustaches, and other hair on the face

  • five o'clock shadow

    informal phrase for stubble that becomes visible later in the day

Antonyms

Usage Note

Usually uncountable and most often used for the rough short hair on a man's chin or cheeks after he has not shaved recently. A beard is longer and more deliberate than stubble.

Common Mistakes

He has a short beard because he did not shave yesterday.
He has stubble because he did not shave yesterday.
stubble is the rough short growth after missing a shave; a beard is longer and usually intentional.

2. the stiff lower ends of grain or corn plants that remain standing in a field aft

2.nounC1
Definition

the stiff lower ends of grain or corn plants that remain standing in a field after harvesting

Example

After the wheat harvest, Greta walked across the sharp stubble in boots.

wheat stubble after harvest

Smoke rose from the field when farmers burned the dry stubble.

burn stubble in a field

Common collocations
  • wheat stubble
  • corn stubble
  • burn stubble
  • plough stubble into the soil
Synonyms
  • crop residue

    broader farming term for plant material left after harvest

  • stalks

    more general word for plant stems, not specifically the short cut remains

Usage Note

Usually treated as a collective uncountable noun. It refers to the short part still rooted in the soil after the crop has been cut, not to loose straw that has already been gathered or fallen.

Common Mistakes

The straw stayed in the field after harvest.
The stubble stayed in the field after harvest.
straw is cut dry stem material, while stubble is the short part still standing in the ground.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all relate to hair on the face, but they point to different things. 'Stubble' means the very short rough growth that appears after someone has not shaved for a short time. A 'beard' is longer facial hair that someone grows on purpose or leaves for much longer. A 'moustache' is only the hair above the upper lip, so it is much narrower in meaning. 'Facial hair' is the broad general term for any hair on the face. For example, Owen had stubble after missing two shaves, but his uncle had a full beard. A police officer may have a moustache without having stubble on the rest of his face.

stubble ↗beard ↗moustache ↗facial hair

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

The word 'stubble' comes from older Germanic words for a stump or short cut-off piece. That basic idea of something left sticking up after the main part has been cut away explains both senses of the word: short facial hair left after shaving and the short remains of crops left after harvest. It is closely related in meaning to modern English 'stub'.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1