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stem

n. · v.
US //ˈstɛm// UK //stˈɛm// stem
  1. 1 plant part (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Botany

    the main long part of a plant that supports the leaves and flowers.

    the primary above-ground axis of a vascular plant that supports leaves and reproductive structures.

    Example

    He cut the flower stems at an angle before putting them in the water.

    Example

    The gardener noticed that the stems of the tomato plants were becoming brittle due to a lack of consistent irrigation.
  2. 2 part of an object (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the thin, vertical part of an object, like a wine glass or a tobacco pipe.

    a slender supporting part of a manufactured object, typically connecting the base to the functional head.

    Example

    She held the wine glass by the stem to keep the drink cold.

    Example

    The antique pipe featured an ornate silver stem that had been polished to a mirror finish by its previous owner.
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  1. 3 word root (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Technical Linguistics

    the main part of a word that stays the same when you add different endings.

    the part of a word to which inflectional affixes are attached; distinct from the root in complex morphological analysis.

    Example

    In the word 'playing', the stem is 'play'.

    Example

    Students of Latin must memorise the perfect stem of each verb to conjugate the past tenses correctly.
  2. 4 front of a ship (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Nautical

    the very front part of a ship or boat.

    the upright post or curved timber forming the forward extremity of a vessel's hull.

    Example

    The ship's name was painted clearly on the stem.

    Example

    The vessel sustained heavy damage to its stem after colliding with a submerged shipping container during the storm.
  3. 5 to originate from (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to start because of something or come from a specific source.

    to originate or derive from a specific cause or source; typically used with the preposition 'from'.

    Example

    Most of her health problems stem from a poor diet and lack of sleep.

    Example

    The current economic crisis stems from a series of poorly regulated financial decisions made over the previous decade.

    Usage

    Always used with the preposition 'from'.
  4. 6 to stop a flow (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to stop something from spreading or flowing, like blood or water.

    to check or restrain the flow or progress of something. Transitive; requires a direct object.

    Example

    The nurse applied pressure to the wound to stem the bleeding.

    Example

    The central bank raised interest rates in a desperate attempt to stem the tide of rising inflation.
Etymology 1

From Middle English stem, stemme, stempne, stevin, from Old English stemn (“stem”), from Proto-West Germanic stamni, from Proto-Germanic stamniz (“stem, tree stalk”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- (“to stand, stay”). Cognates Cognate with Dutch stam (“stem”), German Stamm (“stem”), Danish and Norwegian stamme (“stem”), Danish stavn, stævn (“stem of a boat”), Faroese stavnur (“stem of a boat”), stovnur (“institution, public body, foundation, basis”), Icelandic stafn (“stem of a boat”), stofn (“trunk, stock, livestock, stem”), Norn stomna, stimna (“strength, ability”), Swedish stäm (“tree trunk, stem”), stäv (“stem of a boat”), stomme (“frame, structure”), Gothic 𐍃𐍄𐍉𐌼𐌰 (stōma, “substantial grounds, just cause”), Asturian estame (“stamen”), Aragonese estambre (“stamen”), Catalan estam (“stamen”), French étaim (“yarn”), Galician estame (“stamen, yarn”), Italian stame (“stamen”), Portuguese estame (“stem, yarn”), Spanish Spanish estambre (“stamen, a type of yarn”), Latin stāmen (“warp of a loom, thread hanging from a distaff”), Ancient Greek στῆμα (stêma, “stamen of a flower”), στάμνος (stámnos, “earthen jar, bottle for racking off wine”), Albanian shtamë (“pot, jar, pitcher, jug”), Sanskrit स्थामन् (sthā́man, “place, strength”). Doublet of stamen. Not related to English stoma, which is a Greek loan inherited through New Latin.

Etymology 2

From Middle English stemmen, a borrowing from Old Norse stemma (“to stop, stem, dam”) (whence Danish stemme/stæmme (“to stem, dam up”)), from Proto-Germanic *stammijaną. Cognate with German stemmen, Middle Dutch stemmen, stempen. Compare stammer.

Etymology 3

Acronym of science, technology, engineering, (and) mathematics.

Etymology 4

Blend of stud + femme.

Idioms2 entries

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