stalk
stalk — noun
- stalksingular
- stalksplural
1. the tall, central upright section of a plant, from which leaves, flowers, and fr
the tall, central upright section of a plant, from which leaves, flowers, and fruit grow; also a narrower shaft that attaches a single leaf or blossom to the main body
The rose bush had a thick green stalk covered in sharp thorns.
collocation: thick stalk / green stalk
Dahlia cut the celery stalks into small pieces for the salad.
Each stalk of bamboo grew taller than the last during the rainy season.
A single stalk of wheat can produce up to fifty grains.
The plant's leaves were soft, but the main stalk felt rough and woody.
文法句型
stalk + of + noun
常見錯誤
2. a thin, tube-shaped part of an animal's body that supports an organ or a body pa
a thin, tube-shaped part of an animal's body that supports an organ or a body part, such as an eye or a tentacle
The crab's eyes sit on two thin stalks that can move in different directions.
body part: eye stalks
Some sea snails have a small stalk that holds their shell firmly to a rock.
The insect's antennae grew from short stalks on the front of its head.
A barnacle attaches to a ship's hull using a fleshy stalk called a peduncle.
文法句型
on + stalks
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used in biology or zoology textbooks. For most everyday situations the more general word 'stalk' (plant stem) is what learners encounter.
3. the activity of quietly following a person, animal, or target in order to catch,
the activity of quietly following a person, animal, or target in order to catch, kill, or harm them
The documentary showed a jaguar's slow stalk along the riverbank as it approached a drinking tapir.
hunting context: slow stalk along [feature]
Wildlife photographers sometimes spend weeks on a single stalk through the forest.
The hunter's quiet stalk ended when he finally got close enough for a clear shot.
After a long stalk through the canyon, the guide spotted a mountain lion resting on a rock.
- hunt
the act of pursuing in order to catch or kill; used for animals more than people
- surveillance
formal observation, often done by police or detectives
- pursuit
the act of chasing or following, not necessarily secret
文法句型
on a + stalk
stalk + of + noun
用法筆記
This noun sense is mainly used in hunting and wildlife contexts (tracking animals). For the illegal act of following a person, use the gerund 'stalking' instead (e.g. 'She reported the stalking to the police').
常見錯誤
stalk — verb
- stalkpresent simple I / you / we / they
- stalks3rd person singular
- stalking-ing form
- stalkedpast simple
1. to move silently and carefully behind a wild creature or a person, staying hidde
to move silently and carefully behind a wild creature or a person, staying hidden, with the aim of trapping them, harming them, or reaching very close range
The lioness stalked a herd of zebras through the tall grass for nearly an hour.
animal subject: predator stalks prey
Local hunters used to stalk deer in these mountains before the area became a park.
The cat crouched low and stalked a sparrow pecking at crumbs on the path.
Journalists stalked the film director outside the hotel, hoping for a comment.
- flee
run away from instead of following
文法句型
stalk + animal/person
用法筆記
This sense describes careful, secret movement and is NOT the same as the illegal sense (verb/2). When used for people rather than animals, it usually describes reporters or paparazzi trying to get close to someone.
常見錯誤
2. to repeatedly and illegally follow or watch a person over time in a way that mak
to repeatedly and illegally follow or watch a person over time in a way that makes them feel afraid or threatened
The celebrity obtained a court order to stop a man who had been stalking her.
legal remedy: court order to stop stalking
A private detective was hired to stalk the husband and photograph his activities.
Online stalkers can use social media to follow their victims across multiple platforms.
Yasmin changed her phone number twice because her ex-partner would not stop stalking her.
- harass
broader meaning — includes verbal threats and unwanted contact, not just following
- pursue relentlessly
stronger emotional tone; often used in news reports
- shadow
follow closely and secretly, similar but less common
- leave alone
stop contacting or following someone
- ignore
pay no attention to someone
文法句型
stalk + person
用法筆記
This is a criminal offence in many countries. Use 'stalking' (gerund) as the noun form for the crime itself, not 'stalk' (e.g. 'She reported the stalking to the police').
常見錯誤
3. if something bad or frightening moves silently through a place or period, creati
if something bad or frightening moves silently through a place or period, creating a sense of danger or doom
Famine stalked the region after three years of failed harvests and severe drought.
abstract subject: famine stalks
The fear of unemployment stalked every factory worker during the economic crisis.
Disease stalked the crowded refugee camp, spreading faster than anyone could stop it.
A sense of despair stalked the once-happy neighborhood after the factory closed down.
- spread through
more neutral; describes something moving across an area without the secretive tone
- haunt
of memories, ghosts, or feelings that won't go away
- pervade
formal; of smells, feelings, or qualities present throughout a place
文法句型
[unpleasant thing] + stalk + [place]
用法筆記
This is a literary or journalistic usage. The subject is always an abstract or collective bad thing (famine, disease, fear, death), never a person. You cannot say 'a man stalked the town' for this sense — that would be verb/2 (HARASS).
常見錯誤
4. to walk with stiff, angry, or proud steps, often away from someone or across a r
to walk with stiff, angry, or proud steps, often away from someone or across a room or space, in a way that shows displeasure or a sense of superiority
After losing the argument, Tomás stalked out of the room and slammed the door.
pattern: stalk out of [place]
The winner stalked across the stage to collect her trophy without a single smile.
pattern: stalk across [surface]
Gabriel stalked back to his desk, muttering under his breath about the unfair decision.
The offended guest stalked away from the dinner table, leaving everyone in awkward silence.
- tiptoe
walk quietly and carefully, the opposite of stomping angrily
文法句型
stalk + out/off/away
stalk + across/through + noun
用法筆記
Always used with a direction word (out, off, away, across, back). The walking is done with the back straight and the head held high to signal displeasure or superiority.