Tree
Stump
A stump is the part of a tree trunk and its roots left in the ground after the tree is cut down.
A stump is what remains once a tree is cut. It is the lower trunk plus the root system underneath. Stump height varies, from level with the ground to several feet tall.
The stump is mostly roots and wood below the surface. Iowa State Extension says large machines chew away the stump and any large lateral roots, typically down 8 to 12 inches. Fine and deep roots remain and break down over time.
A stump may also sprout. Iowa State notes that some stumps will resprout after the tree is cut down. See stump removal for the ways to deal with one, and stump sprout for regrowth. Stump diameter is how a stump is sized.