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

The beginning of winter also coincides with stubble burning season, a time when farmers intentionally set fire to crop debris to clear their fields, sending smoke billowing in the skies. —Sophia Saifi, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024

The city battles toxic air every winter, and authorities say much of the smoke comes from farmers illegally burning paddy stubble to clear their fields in the neighboring breadbasket states of Punjab and Haryana. —Reuters, NBC News, 24 Oct. 2024

Men around the world imitated Sonny Crockett’s (Don Johnson) go-to look: Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses, a sports coat over a pastel T-shirt, slip-on shoes without socks, and stubble. —Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024

The guy was tall, well built, with a few days of stubble. —Mohammad Ali, WIRED, 14 Apr. 2020

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