stool

1 of 2

noun

ˈstül 

1

a

: a seat usually without back or arms supported by three or four legs or by a central pedestal

b

: a low bench or portable support for the feet or knees : footstool

2

: a seat used as a symbol of office or authority

also : the rank, dignity, office, or rule of a chieftain

3

a

: a discharge of fecal matter

b

: a seat used while defecating or urinating

4

a

: a stump or group of stumps of a tree especially when producing suckers

b

: a plant crown from which shoots grow out

c

: a shoot or growth from a stool

5

: stool pigeon sense 1

stool

2 of 2

verb

stooled; stooling; stools

intransitive verb

: to throw out shoots in the manner of a stool

Examples of stool in a Sentence

Noun

She sat on a stool.

The patient had bloody stools.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Research finds microplastics in our stool and urine. —Will Stone, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024

The virus can still multiply inside the intestines and be shed in the stool. —Tina Reed, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024

Verb

It’s flanked by swing-arm sconces and walnut Burrow Index stools that act as minimalist nightstands day-to-day, but can also be used as extra seating for guests and to reach high-up storage. —Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 5 Dec. 2024

Peeters also led a ‘DNA project’, which saw the club analyse samples of a player’s sweat, saliva, urine and stools several times per season, with the aim of obtaining more information to try to ensure faster physical repair and reduce time lost to injuries. —Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 2 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English stōl; akin to Old High German stuol chair, Old Church Slavic stolŭ seat, throne

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1770, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing stool

• cucking stool
• cutty stool
• ducking stool
• step stool
• stool pigeon

Kids Definition

stool

noun

ˈstül

1

a

: a seat without back or arms supported by three or four legs or by a central post

b

: footstool

2

a

: a seat used while urinating or having a bowel movement

b

: a mass of bodily waste discharged from the intestine in a bowel movement

Medical Definition

stool

noun

ˈstül 

: a discharge of fecal matter