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stem

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stem

1  [stem] ,noun, verb, stemmed, stem⋅ming.
Use stem in a Sentence
–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.
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.
–verb (used with object)
20. to remove the stem from (a leaf, fruit, etc.): Stem the cherries before cooking.
–verb (used without object)
21. to arise or originate: This project stems from last week's lecture.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE stemn, stefn, equiv. to ste- (var. of sta-, base of standan to stand ) + -mn- suffix; akin to G Stamm stem, tribe; see staff 1

Related forms:
stemless, adjective
stemlike, adjective
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stem

2  [stem] verb, stemmed, stem⋅ming, noun
–verb (used with object)
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).
–verb (used without object)
6. Skiing. to execute a stem.
–noun
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.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME stemmen < ON stemma to dam or MLG stemmen

stem

3  [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:
1585–95; v. use of stem 4

stem

4  [stem] ,
–noun Nautical.
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:
bef. 900; continuing OE stefn, stemn end-timber; special use of stem 1 ; ME stampne, stamyn(e) appar. < the c. ON stamn, stafn in same sense

stem

5  [stem] ,
–verb (used with object), stemmed, stem⋅ming.
to arrange the loading of (a merchant vessel) within a specified time.
Origin:
1895–1900; var. of steven to direct one's course < ON stefna to sail directly, aim, deriv. of stafn stem 4
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To stem
stem 1   (stěm)   
n.  

    1. The main ascending axis of a plant; a stalk or trunk.

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

    3. The tube of a tobacco pipe.

    4. The slender upright support of a wineglass or goblet.

    5. The small projecting shaft with an expanded crown by which a watch is wound.

    6. The rounded rod in the center of certain locks about which the key fits and is turned.

    7. The shaft of a feather or hair.

    8. The upright stroke of a typeface or letter.

    9. Music The vertical line extending from the head of a note.

  2. A banana stalk bearing several bunches of bananas.

  3. A connecting or supporting part, especially:

    1. The tube of a tobacco pipe.

    2. The slender upright support of a wineglass or goblet.

    3. The small projecting shaft with an expanded crown by which a watch is wound.

    4. The rounded rod in the center of certain locks about which the key fits and is turned.

    5. The shaft of a feather or hair.

    6. The upright stroke of a typeface or letter.

    7. Music The vertical line extending from the head of a note.

  4. The main line of descent of a family.

  5. Linguistics The main part of a word to which affixes are added.

  6. Nautical The curved upright beam at the fore of a vessel into which the hull timbers are scarfed to form the prow.

  7. The tubular glass structure mounting the filament or electrodes in an incandescent bulb or vacuum tube.

v.   stemmed, stem·ming, stems

v.   intr.
To have or take origin or descent.
v.   tr.

  1. To remove the stem of.

  2. To provide with a stem.

  3. To make headway against: managed to stem the rebellion.


[Middle English, from Old English stefn, stemn; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to come forth or come into being: customs that stem from the past; misery that arose from war; rights that derive from citizenship; disapproval that emanated from the teacher; happiness that flows from their friendship; prejudice that issues from fear; a proposal that originated in the Congress; a mistake that proceeded from carelessness; rebellion that rises in the provinces; new industries that spring up.
stem 2   (stěm)   
v.   stemmed, stem·ming, stems

v.   tr.

  1. To stop or hold back by or as if by damming; stanch.

  2. To plug or tamp (a blast hole, for example).

  3. Sports To point (skis) inward.

v.   intr. Sports
To point skis inward in order to slow down or turn.

[Middle English stemmen, from Old Norse stemma.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

stem  (n.)
O.E. stemn, stefn "stem of a plant," also "either end-post of a ship," from P.Gmc. *stamniz (cf. O.S. stamm, O.N. stafn "stem of a ship;" Dan. stamme, Swed. stam "trunk of a tree;" O.H.G. stam, Ger. Stamm), from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Meaning "support of a wineglass" is from 1835. Stem-winding watches (1875) were advanced and desirable when introduced, hence slang stem-winder "excellent thing" (1892). The nautical sense is preserved in the phrase stem to stern "along the full length" (of a ship), attested from 1627. The verbal phrase stems from, first recorded 1932, Amer.Eng., translates Ger. stammen aus, probably from a fig. sense represented by Eng. stem (n.) in the sense of "stock of a family, line of descent" (c.1540; cf. family tree, and Ger. stammvater "tribal ancestor," lit. "stem-father").

stem  (v.)
"to hold back," c.1300, from O.N. stemma "to stop," from P.Gmc. *stamjan (cf. Swed. stämma, O.S. stemmian, M.Du. stemon, Ger. stemmen "stop, resist, oppose"), from PIE base *stem- "to strike against something" (cf. Lith. stumiu "thrust, push"). Phrase to stem the tide is lit. "to hold back the tide," but often is confused with stem (v.) in sense of "to make headway against, head in a certain course" (1375), which is from stem (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

stem (stěm)
n.
A supporting structure resembling the stalk of a plant.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

stem

In addition to the idiom beginning with stem, also see from soup to nuts (stem to stern).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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