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 base1(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 staff1]
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]
The main ascending axis of a plant; a stalk or trunk.
A slender stalk supporting or connecting another plant part, such as a leaf or flower.
The tube of a tobacco pipe.
The slender upright support of a wineglass or goblet.
The small projecting shaft with an expanded crown by which a watch is wound.
The rounded rod in the center of certain locks about which the key fits and is turned.
The shaft of a feather or hair.
The upright stroke of a typeface or letter.
Music The vertical line extending from the head of a note.
A banana stalk bearing several bunches of bananas.
A connecting or supporting part, especially:
The tube of a tobacco pipe.
The slender upright support of a wineglass or goblet.
The small projecting shaft with an expanded crown by which a watch is wound.
The rounded rod in the center of certain locks about which the key fits and is turned.
The shaft of a feather or hair.
The upright stroke of a typeface or letter.
Music The vertical line extending from the head of a note.
The main line of descent of a family.
Linguistics The main part of a word to which affixes are added.
Nautical The curved upright beam at the fore of a vessel into which the hull timbers are scarfed to form the prow.
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.
To remove the stem of.
To provide with a stem.
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.
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").
"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.)).
the part of a plant that grows upward from the root, or the part from which a leaf, flower or fruit grows; a stalk Example: Poppies have long, hairy, twisting stems.
Arabic:
ساق
Chinese (Simplified):
茎、梗、（树）干
Chinese (Traditional):
莖、梗、(樹)幹
Czech:
stonek
Danish:
stilk; stængel
Dutch:
steel
Estonian:
vars
Finnish:
varsi
French:
tige
German:
der Stiel
Greek:
μίσχος
Hungarian:
szár
Icelandic:
stofn, trjábolur; stilkur
Indonesian:
batang
Japanese:
茎
Korean:
줄기, 대
Latvian:
stumbrs; stiebrs; stublājs; kāts
Lithuanian:
kotas, stiebas
Norwegian:
stilk
Polish:
łodyga
Portuguese (Brazil):
caule, haste
Portuguese (Portugal):
haste
Romanian:
tulpină
Russian:
ствол; стебель
Slovak:
stonka
Slovenian:
steblo
Swedish:
stam, stängel, stjälk
Turkish:
sap, gövde
stem2[stem]noun
the narrow part of various objects, eg of a wine-glass between the bowl and the base Example: the stem of a wine-glass / of a tobacco-pipe
Arabic:
عُنْق
Chinese (Simplified):
酒杯的脚
Chinese (Traditional):
酒杯的腳
Czech:
nožka; troubel
Danish:
stilk; spids
Dutch:
steel
Estonian:
jalg, tüvi
Finnish:
varsi
French:
pied
German:
der Stiel
Greek:
το μακρύ στέλεχος διάφορων αντικειμένων, πόδι (μτφ.)
Hungarian:
szár
Icelandic:
stilkur
Indonesian:
tangkai
Japanese:
柄
Korean:
(공구 등의) 자루, 굽
Latvian:
kājiņa; kāts
Lithuanian:
kojelė, kandiklis
Norwegian:
stett
Polish:
trzon
Portuguese (Brazil):
pé, haste, tubo
Portuguese (Portugal):
haste
Romanian:
picior
Russian:
ножка; черенок
Slovak:
nôžka, rúrka
Slovenian:
držalo
Swedish:
fot, skaft
Turkish:
sap, ayak
stem3[stem]noun
the upright piece of wood or metal at the bow of a ship Example: As the ship struck the rock, she shook from stem to stern.
Arabic:
مُقَدَّمة السَّفينَه
Chinese (Simplified):
船头
Chinese (Traditional):
船頭
Czech:
po celé délce
Danish:
fra for til agter
Dutch:
voorsteven
Estonian:
vöörtääv
Finnish:
keulavannas
French:
étrave
German:
der Steven
Greek:
το κατακόρυφο ξύλινο ή μεταλλικό κομμάτι της πλώρης
Hungarian:
(hajó)orr
Icelandic:
stefni
Indonesian:
tiang
Japanese:
船首
Korean:
이물, 선수재
Latvian:
(kuģa) priekšgals; priekšpīķis
Lithuanian:
pirmagalio sija
Norwegian:
forstavn
Polish:
dziobnica
Portuguese (Brazil):
proa
Portuguese (Portugal):
proa
Romanian:
etravă
Russian:
форштевень; нос
Slovak:
po celej dĺžke
Slovenian:
ladijski kljun
Swedish:
för, stäv, framstam
Turkish:
baş, pruva
stem[stem]verb
(withfrom) to be caused by Example: Hate sometimes stems from envy.
Arabic:
يَنْشأ عَن، يَنْجِم عَن
Chinese (Simplified):
发生（于）
Chinese (Traditional):
發生(於)
Czech:
pramenit (z)
Danish:
stamme
Dutch:
voortkomen uit
Estonian:
pärinema
French:
provenir de
German:
stammen
Greek:
προέρχομαι, πηγάζω
Hungarian:
ered vhonnan
Icelandic:
stafa af
Indonesian:
karena
Japanese:
由来する
Korean:
생기다, 유래하다
Latvian:
rasties; celties
Lithuanian:
kilti
Norwegian:
stamme fra
Polish:
pochodzić, mieć swoje źródło
Portuguese (Brazil):
provir
Portuguese (Portugal):
provir
Romanian:
a proveni (din, *de la), a fi cauzat de
Russian:
происходить; возникать
Slovak:
prameniť (z)
Slovenian:
izvirati
Swedish:
härröra från, uppstå ur
Turkish:
doğmak, ileri gelmek
stem[stem]verb — past tense, past participlestemmed
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.
Stem, NC (town, FIPS 64940) Location: 36.19981 N, 78.72323 W Population (1990): 249 (111 housing units) Area: 2.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 27581
Stam"mer\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stammered; p. pr. & vb. n. Stammering.] [OE. stameren, fr. AS. stamur, stamer, stammering; akin to D. & LG. stameren to stammer, G. stammeln, OHG. stammal?n, stamm?n, Dan. stamme, Sw. stamma, Icel. stama, stamma, OHG. & Dan. stam stammering, Icel. stamr, Goth. stamms, and to G. stemmen to bear against, stumm dumb, D. stom. Cf. Stem to resist, Stumble.] To make involuntary stops in uttering syllables or words; to hesitate or falter in speaking; to speak with stops and diffivulty; to stutter. I would thou couldst stammer, that thou mightest pour this conclead man out of thy mouth, as wine comes out of a narrow-mouthed bottle, either too much at once, or none at all. --Shak.
Stem\, n. [AS. stemn, stefn, st[ae]fn; akin to OS. stamn the stem of a ship, D. stam stem, steven stem of a ship, G. stamm stem, steven stem of a ship, Icel. stafn, stamn, stem of a ship, stofn, stomn, stem, Sw. stam a tree trunk, Dan. stamme. Cf. Staff, Stand.]1. The principal body of a tree, shrub, or plant, of any kind; the main stock; the part which supports the branches or the head or top. After they are shot up thirty feet in length, they spread a very large top, having no bough nor twig in the trunk or the stem. --Sir W. Raleigh. The lowering spring, with lavish rain, Beats down the slender stem and breaded grain. --Dryden. 2. A little branch which connects a fruit, flower, or leaf with a main branch; a peduncle, pedicel, or petiole; as, the stem of an apple or a cherry. 3. The stock of a family; a race or generation of progenitors. "All that are of noble stem." --Milton. While I do pray, learn here thy stem And true descent. --Herbert. 4. A branch of a family. This is a stem Of that victorious stock. --Shak. 5. (Naut.) A curved piece of timber to which the two sides of a ship are united at the fore end. The lower end of it is scarfed to the keel, and the bowsprit rests upon its upper end. Hence, the forward part of a vessel; the bow. 6. Fig.: An advanced or leading position; the lookout. Wolsey sat at the stem more than twenty years. --Fuller. 7. Anything resembling a stem or stalk; as, the stem of a tobacco pipe; the stem of a watch case, or that part to which the ring, by which it is suspended, is attached. 8. (Bot.) That part of a plant which bears leaves, or rudiments of leaves, whether rising above ground or wholly subterranean. 9. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The entire central axis of a feather. (b) The basal portion of the body of one of the Pennatulacea, or of a gorgonian. 10. (Mus.) The short perpendicular line added to the body of a note; the tail of a crotchet, quaver, semiquaver, etc. 11. (Gram.) The part of an inflected word which remains unchanged (except by euphonic variations) throughout a given inflection; theme; base. From stem to stern (Naut.), from one end of the ship to the other, or through the whole length. Stem leaf (Bot.), a leaf growing from the stem of a plant, as contrasted with a basal or radical leaf.
Stem\, v. t. 1. To remove the stem or stems from; as, to stem cherries; to remove the stem and its appendages (ribs and veins) from; as, to stem tobacco leaves. 2. To ram, as clay, into a blasting hole.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [stem] Pronunciation Key, noun, verb, stemmed, stem·ming. 
