The word stump has several meanings:

1. The bottom part of a tree trunk that remains in the ground after the tree has been cut down. When loggers clear a forest, they leave stumps behind. These stumps can be surprisingly stubborn: their roots spread deep and wide underground, making them difficult to remove. Pioneer families clearing land for farms sometimes spent days digging out a single large stump. Today, you might see stumps used as rustic outdoor stools or tables.
2. To puzzle or confuse someone so completely that they can't figure something out. A tricky riddle might stump your entire class. When you're stumped by a problem, you've hit a mental wall, like a traveler who runs into an actual tree stump blocking the path. Teachers sometimes say a question stumped them when they don't know the answer right away.
3. To travel around making political speeches. When candidates stump for votes, they visit town after town giving speeches. You might hear that a senator is on the stump or stumping across several states before an election.