top definitions
quizzes
related content
examples
explore dictionary
british
medical
scientific
idioms and phrases

stem

[ stem ]

/ stɛm /

noun

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

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

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

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

a petiole; peduncle; pedicel.

a stalk of bananas.

something resembling or suggesting a leaf or flower stalk.

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

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

Informal. a drinking glass having a stem.

the handle of a spoon.

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

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

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

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

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 18), theme(def 5).

Music. the vertical line forming part of a note.

stems, Slang. the legs of a human being.

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

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

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

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

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

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of stem

before 900; Middle English; Old English stemn, stefn, equivalent to ste- (variant of sta-, base of standan to stand) + -mn- suffix; akin to German Stamm stem, tribe; see staff¹

OTHER WORDS FROM stem

stem·less, adjectivestem·like, adjective

Words nearby stem

stellionate, stellite, stellula, stellular, stellwag's sign, stem, stem canker, stem cell, stem cell leukemia, stem christie, stem duchy

Definition for stem (2 of 6)

stem²

[ stem ]

/ stɛm /

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

to stop, check, or restrain.

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

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

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

to stanch (bleeding).

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

Skiing. to execute a stem.

noun

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

1400–50; late Middle English stemmen < Old Norse stemma to dam or Middle Low German stemmen

Definition for stem (3 of 6)

stem³

[ stem ]

/ stɛm /

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

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

to make progress against (any opposition).

Origin of stem

First recorded in 1585–95; v. use of stem⁴

Definition for stem (4 of 6)

stem⁴

[ stem ]

/ stɛm /

noun Nautical.

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

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

Origin of stem

⁴

before 900; continuing Old English stefn, stemn end-timber; special use of stem¹; Middle English stampne, stamyn(e) apparently < the cognate with Old Norse stamn, stafn in same sense

Definition for stem (5 of 6)

stem⁵

[ stem ]

/ stɛm /

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

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

Origin of stem

⁵

1895–1900; variant of steven to direct one's course < Old Norse stefna to sail directly, aim, derivative of stafn stem⁴

Definition for stem (6 of 6)

STEM

[ stem ]

/ stɛm /

noun

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for stem

Republican legislatures are looking for any way to stem the tide, and religious exemptions are one way to do that.
RFRA Madness: What’s Next for Anti-Democratic ‘Religious Exemptions’|Jay Michaelson|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In part, it may stem from what looks like an increasingly “political” Court.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Levels With Us on Why She’s Not Retiring|Jeff Greenfield|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Food dislikes often stem from childhood, or are linked to unpleasant past experiences.
Brits Are Very Fussy Eaters|Emma Woolf|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We might start by trying to stem the sale of arms to those who are perpetrating the violence in the first place.
Is it Time to Send Lady Liberty Back to France?|Gene Robinson|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In fact, in 2013 women made up less than a quarter of all full-time professors in STEM fields.
Two-Thirds of These Female Scientists Say They’ve Been Sexually Harassed|Brandy Zadrozny|July 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An axillary flower stands between the bract or leaf which subtends it and the axis or stem which bears this bract or leaf.
The Elements of Botany|Asa Gray
M. de Cussy returned the bow and accepted a seat on the locker under the stem windows.
Captain Blood|Rafael Sabatini
If the float is too high on its stem, the gasoline control valve may not be operated until the fuel overflows in its chamber.
The Gasoline Motor|Harold Whiting Slauson
It went, of course, from stem to stern, and the thickly tarred folds nailed over the bows served somewhat to strengthen them.
Will Weatherhelm|W.H.G. Kingston
Differs from A. arvensis in flesh becoming yellow, and in yellow base of stem.
European Fungus Flora: Agaricaceae|George Massee

British Dictionary definitions for stem (1 of 3)

stem¹

/ (stɛm) /

noun

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

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

a corresponding structure in algae and fungi

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

a banana stalk with several bunches attached

the main line of descent or branch of a family

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

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

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 elementCompare root 1 (def. 9)

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

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)

verb stems, stemming or stemmed

(intr usually foll by from) to be derived; originatethe instability stems from the war

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

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

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

Derived forms of stem

stemlike, adjectivestemmer, noun

Word Origin for stem

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

British Dictionary definitions for stem (2 of 3)

stem²

/ (stɛm) /

verb stems, stemming or stemmed

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

(tr) to pack tightly or stop up

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

noun

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

Derived forms of stem

stemmer, noun

Word Origin for stem

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

British Dictionary definitions for stem (3 of 3)

Stem

/ (stɛm) /

noun

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

Word Origin for Stem

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

Medical definitions for stem

stem

[ stĕm ]

n.

A supporting structure resembling the stalk of a plant.

Scientific definitions for stem

stem

[ stĕm ]

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.

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

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)

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

stem

noun

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

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

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Origin of stem

OTHER WORDS FROM stem

Words nearby stem

Definition for stem (2 of 6)

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

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

noun

Origin of stem

Definition for stem (3 of 6)

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

Origin of stem

Definition for stem (4 of 6)

noun Nautical.

Origin of stem

Definition for stem (5 of 6)

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

Origin of stem

Definition for stem (6 of 6)

noun

Words related to stem

Example sentences from the Web for stem

British Dictionary definitions for stem (1 of 3)

noun

verb stems, stemming or stemmed

Derived forms of stem

Word Origin for stem

British Dictionary definitions for stem (2 of 3)

verb stems, stemming or stemmed

noun

Derived forms of stem

Word Origin for stem

British Dictionary definitions for stem (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for Stem

Medical definitions for stem

n.

Scientific definitions for stem

Idioms and Phrases with stem