stalk(动词)指悄悄跟踪、纠缠式尾随某人,常带有威胁、骚扰或猎捕意味;在现代语境中也常指“跟踪骚扰”。
(名词义较常见的另一义:植物的茎/梗,如 corn stalk “玉米秆”。)
/stɔːk/(英式); /stɔk/(美式)
She realized someone was stalking her on the way home.
她意识到回家的路上有人在跟踪她。
The detective claimed the suspect had been stalking the victim for weeks, watching her routines and waiting for an opportunity.
侦探称嫌疑人已跟踪受害者数周,观察她的日常规律并伺机下手。
stalk 来自古英语 stelcan,原意有“悄悄走近/潜行”的含义,和“猎人或掠食者潜伏接近猎物”的动作相关,因此逐渐发展出“跟踪、尾随(带压迫感)”的现代用法。名词“植物的茎”则来自日耳曼语系中与“杆、茎”相关的词源传统。