stem

1
[ stem ]
See synonyms for stem on Thesaurus.com
noun

  1. the ascending axis of a plant, whether above or below ground, which ordinarily grows in an opposite direction to the root or descending axis.

  2. the stalk that supports a leaf, flower, or fruit.

  1. the main body of that portion of a tree, shrub, or other plant which is above ground; trunk; stalk.

  2. a cut flower: We bought roses at the flower market for 50¢ a stem.

  3. a petiole; peduncle; pedicel.

  4. a stalk of bananas.

  5. something resembling or suggesting a leaf or flower stalk.

  6. a long, slender part: the stem of a tobacco pipe.

  7. the slender, vertical part of a goblet, wineglass, etc., between the bowl and the base.

  8. Informal. a drinking glass having a stem.

  9. the handle of a spoon.

  10. a projection from the rim of a watch, having on its end a knob for winding the watch.

  11. the circular rod in some locks about which the key fits and rotates.

  12. the rod or spindle by which a valve is operated from outside.

  13. the stock or line of descent of a family; ancestry or pedigree.

  14. Grammar. the underlying form, often consisting of a root plus an affix, to which the inflectional endings of a word are added, as tend-, the stem in Latin tendere “to stretch,” the root of which is ten-.: Compare base1 (def. 19), theme (def. 5).

  15. Music. the vertical line forming part of a note.

  16. stems, Slang. the legs of a human being.

  17. the main or relatively thick stroke of a letter in printing.

verb (used with object),stemmed, stem·ming.

  1. to remove the stem from (a leaf, fruit, etc.): Stem the cherries before cooking.

verb (used without object),stemmed, stem·ming.

  1. to arise or originate: This project stems from last week's lecture.

Origin of stem

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English stem(me), Old English stemn, stefn “stem (of a plant or ship)”; from Germanic stamniz “stem, tree trunk” (equivalent to stə-, a variant of the root stā- “to stand, place” + -mn-, noun suffix); akin to Old Norse stafn “stem of a ship,” Old Saxon stamm, Old High German stam “stem, tribe,” Greek stámnos “large (standing) jar”; cf. stamnos, stand

Other words from stem

  • stemless, adjective
  • stemlike, adjective

Words Nearby stem

Other definitions for stem (2 of 6)

stem2
[ stem ]
verb (used with object),stemmed, stem·ming.

  1. to stop, check, or restrain.

  2. to dam up; stop the flow of (a stream, river, or the like).

  1. to tamp, plug, or make tight, as a hole or joint.

  2. Skiing. to maneuver (a ski or skis) in executing a stem.

  3. to stanch (bleeding).

verb (used without object),stemmed, stem·ming.

  1. Skiing. to execute a stem.

noun

  1. Skiing. the act or instance of a skier pushing the heel of one or both skis outward so that the heels are far apart, as in making certain turns or slowing down.

Origin of stem

2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English stemmen, from Old Norse stemma “to dam” or Middle Low German stemmen

Other definitions for stem (3 of 6)

stem3
[ stem ]
verb (used with object),stemmed, stem·ming.

  1. to make headway against (a tide, current, gale, etc.).

  2. to make progress against (any opposition).

Origin of stem

3
First recorded in 1585–95; verb use of stem4:see origin at stem1

Other definitions for stem (4 of 6)

stem4
[ stem ]
nounNautical.

  1. (at the bow of a vessel) an upright into which the side timbers or plates are jointed.

  2. the forward part of a vessel (often opposed to stern).

Origin of stem

4
First recorded before 900; continuing Old English stefn, stemn “end-timber,” Middle English stampne, stamyn(e), apparently from the Old Norse cognate stamn, stafn in the same sense; see origin at stem1

Other definitions for stem (5 of 6)

stem5
[ stem ]
verb (used with object),stemmed, stem·ming.

  1. to arrange the loading of (a merchant vessel) within a specified time.

Origin of stem

5
First recorded in 1895–1900; variant of obsolete steven “to direct one's course,” from Old Norse stefna “to sail directly, aim,” derivative of stafn stem4;see origin at stem1

Other definitions for STEM (6 of 6)

STEM
[ stem ]
noun

  1. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, considered as a group of academic or career fields (often used attributively): degree programs in STEM disciplines;teaching STEM in high school.

Origin of STEM

6
First recorded in 1965–70

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use stem in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stem (1 of 3)

stem1

/ (stɛm) /

noun

  1. the main axis of a plant, which bears the leaves, axillary buds, and flowers and contains a hollow cylinder of vascular tissue

  2. any similar subsidiary structure in such plants that bears a flower, fruit, or leaf

  1. a corresponding structure in algae and fungi

  2. any long slender part, such as the hollow part of a tobacco pipe that lies between the bit and the bowl, or the support between the base and the bowl of a wineglass, goblet, etc

  3. a banana stalk with several bunches attached

  4. the main line of descent or branch of a family

  5. a round pin in some locks on which a socket in the end of a key fits and about which it rotates

  6. any projecting feature of a component: a shank or cylindrical pin or rod, such as the pin that carries the winding knob on a watch

  7. linguistics the form of a word that remains after removal of all inflectional affixes; the root of a word, esp as occurring together with a thematic element: Compare root 1 (def. 9)

  8. the main, usually vertical, stroke of a letter or of a musical note such as a minim

  9. electronics the tubular glass section projecting from the base of a light bulb or electronic valve, on which the filament or electrodes are mounted

    • the main upright timber or structure at the bow of a vessel

    • the very forward end of a vessel (esp in the phrase from stem to stern)

verbstems, stemming or stemmed

  1. (intr usually foll by from) to be derived; originate: the instability stems from the war

  2. (tr) to make headway against (a tide, wind, etc)

  1. (tr) to remove or disengage the stem or stems from

  2. (tr) to supply (something) with a stem or stems

Origin of stem

1
Old English stemn; related to Old Norse stafn stem of a ship, German Stamm tribe, Gothic stōma basis, Latin stāmen thread

Derived forms of stem

  • stemlike, adjective
  • stemmer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for stem (2 of 3)

stem2

/ (stɛm) /

verbstems, stemming or stemmed

  1. (tr) to restrain or stop (the flow of something) by or as if by damming up

  2. (tr) to pack tightly or stop up

  1. skiing to manoeuvre (a ski or skis), as in performing a stem

noun

  1. skiing a technique in which the heel of one ski or both skis is forced outwards from the direction of movement in order to slow down or turn

Origin of stem

2
C15 stemmen, from Old Norse stemma; related to Old Norse stamr blocked, stammering, German stemmen to prop; see stammer

Derived forms of stem

  • stemmer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Stem (3 of 3)

Stem

/ (stɛm) /

noun

  1. die Stem (di) the South African national anthem until 1991, when part of it was incorporated into the current anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika: See Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika

Origin of Stem

3
C19: from Afrikaans, the call

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for stem

stem

[ stĕm ]

  1. The main, often long or slender part of a plant that usually grows upward above the ground and supports other parts, such as branches and leaves. Plants have evolved a number of tissue arrangements in the stem. Seedless vascular plants (such as mosses and ferns) have primary vascular tissue in an inner core, a cylindrical ring, or individual strands scattered amid the ground tissue. In eudicots, magnoliids, and conifers, the stem develops a continuous cylindrical layer or a ring of separate bundles of vascular tissue (including secondary vascular tissue) embedded in the ground tissue. In monocots and some herbaceous eudicots, individual strands of primary vascular tissue are scattered in the ground tissue.

  2. A slender stalk supporting or connecting another plant part, such as a leaf or flower.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with stem

stem

In addition to the idiom beginning with stem

  • stem the tide
  • stem to stern

also see:

  • from soup to nuts (stem to stern)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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