,noun, verb, stemmed, stem⋅ming.| 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. |
| 3. | the main body of that portion of a tree, shrub, or other plant which is above ground; trunk; stalk. |
| 4. | a cut flower: We bought roses at the flower market for 50¢ a stem. |
| 5. | a petiole; peduncle; pedicel. |
| 6. | a stalk of bananas. |
| 7. | something resembling or suggesting a leaf or flower stalk. |
| 8. | a long, slender part: the stem of a tobacco pipe. |
| 9. | the slender, vertical part of a goblet, wineglass, etc., between the bowl and the base. |
| 10. | Informal. a drinking glass having a stem. |
| 11. | the handle of a spoon. |
| 12. | a projection from the rim of a watch, having on its end a knob for winding the watch. |
| 13. | the circular rod in some locks about which the key fits and rotates. |
| 14. | the rod or spindle by which a valve is operated from outside. |
| 15. | the stock or line of descent of a family; ancestry or pedigree. |
| 16. | 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 base 1 (def. 18), theme (def. 5). |
| 17. | Music. the vertical line forming part of a note. |
| 18. | stems, Slang. the legs of a human being. |
| 19. | the main or relatively thick stroke of a letter in printing. |
| 20. | to remove the stem from (a leaf, fruit, etc.): Stem the cherries before cooking. |
| 21. | to arise or originate: This project stems from last week's lecture. |
verb, stemmed, stem⋅ming, noun | 1. | to stop, check, or restrain. |
| 2. | to dam up; stop the flow of (a stream, river, or the like). |
| 3. | to tamp, plug, or make tight, as a hole or joint. |
| 4. | Skiing. to maneuver (a ski or skis) in executing a stem. |
| 5. | to stanch (bleeding). |
| 6. | Skiing. to execute a stem. |
| 7. | 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. |

,| 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). |

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

stem (stěm)
n.
A supporting structure resembling the stalk of a plant.
stem
In addition to the idiom beginning with stem, also see from soup to nuts (stem to stern).