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 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-.
Music. the vertical line forming part of a note.
Slang. stems, the legs of a human being.
the main or relatively thick stroke of a letter in printing.
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).
to make headway against (a tide, current, gale, etc.).
to make progress against (any opposition).
(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 tostern ).
(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
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 element Compare root 1
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 )
to be derived; originate
the 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
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.
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 ( def. ), stand
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English stemmen, from Old Norse stemma “to dam” or Middle Low German stemmen
First recorded in 1585–95; verb use of stem 4: stem 1 ( def. )
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 stem 1 ( def. )
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 stem 4; stem 1 ( def. )
First recorded in 1965–70
A stem is a plant's stalk, and it's also a verb meaning "grow out of." So roses have stems, and your idea to give roses to your mom for her birthday stems from her love of flowers. A stem can be the central root of a word, the supporting structure of a plant, or the thin, cylindrical part of a glass goblet. When one thing stems from something else, it originates or begins growing there: "His vegetarianism stems from his love of animals." An older meaning of the verb is "stop the flow of something," as in "Stem your nosebleed with this tissue!" or "Some people think streetlights will stem the graffiti on that street."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This higher risk may stem from a combination of chronic inflammation, social stigma, and economic challenges.
From Science Daily • May 4, 2026
The main pressures on Social Security stem from demographic shifts: people are living longer and birth rates have fallen, reducing the ratio of workers to retirees.
From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026
That has happened despite an insurance department plan to stem the growth of the plan, which offers basic but costly policies.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
The numbers involved are extraordinary and prompted the PGA Tour to find funding to stem an exit flow of talent that was attracted to the breakaway tour and threatened the future of the golfing establishment.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
The plates had pears with a red shiny stem painted in the center.
From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
