Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Origin: Perhaps from stale 'step of a ladder, long handle' (11-19 centuries), from Old English stalu

stalk

1 noun
     
stalk
Related topics: Daily Life, Plants
stalk1 [countable]
1HBP a long narrow part of a plant that supports leaves, fruits, or flowers:
celery stalks
2D a thin upright object
3

somebody's eyes are out on stalks

British English informal if your eyes are out on stalks, you are very surprised or shocked
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary