stubble

noun

stub·​ble ˈstə-bəl 

often attributive

1

: the basal part of herbaceous plants and especially cereal grasses remaining attached to the soil after harvest

2

: a rough surface or growth resembling stubble

especially : a short growth of beard

stubbled

ˈstə-bəld 

adjective

stubbly

ˈstə-b(ə-)lē 

adjective

Examples of stubble in a Sentence

He ran his hand over his stubble.

Recent Examples on the Web

Portugal also uses livestock such as sheep to conserve soil and control vegetation, while also maintaining ground stubble, which leads to low soil mobility. —Indrabati Lahiri, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Around 38% of the pollution in New Delhi this year has been caused by stubble burning — a practice where stubble left after harvesting rice is burned to clear fields — in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana. —Reuters, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024

The stainless steel teeth and high-RPM motor handle stubble and shorter beards with ease. —Boutayna Chokrane, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2024

Delhi’s rising pollution – credited to winter smog, industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and stubble burning in nearby states – is disrupting daily life and impacting public health. —Fahad Shah, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stuble, from Anglo-French estuble, from Latin stupula stalk, straw, alteration of stipula — more at stipule

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stubble

• stubble mulch

Kids Definition

stubble

noun

stub·​ble ˈstəb-əl 

1

: the stem ends of herbs and especially cereal grasses remaining attached to the ground after harvest

2

: a rough surface or growth resembling stubble

stubbly

-(ə-)lē 

adjective