# stem

/ˈstɛm/ (US) · /stˈɛm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stem
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. plant part

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- He cut the flower stems at an angle before putting them in the water.
- The gardener noticed that the stems of the tomato plants were becoming brittle due to a lack of consistent irrigation.

### 2. part of an object

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- She held the wine glass by the stem to keep the drink cold.
- The antique pipe featured an ornate silver stem that had been polished to a mirror finish by its previous owner.

### 3. word root

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

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

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

- In the word 'playing', the stem is 'play'.
- Students of Latin must memorise the perfect stem of each verb to conjugate the past tenses correctly.

### 5. front of a ship

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the very front part of a ship or boat.

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

- The ship's name was painted clearly on the stem.
- The vessel sustained heavy damage to its stem after colliding with a submerged shipping container during the storm.

### 6. to originate from

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

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

### 7. to stop a flow

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- The nurse applied pressure to the wound to stem the bleeding.
- The central bank raised interest rates in a desperate attempt to stem the tide of rising inflation.

## Examples

- The flower has a long, green stem.
- Cut the flower stems at an angle before placing them in fresh water to help them absorb moisture.
- While some plants have soft, fleshy stems that die back each winter, woody perennials develop a rigid structure capable of supporting significant weight and surviving harsh seasonal changes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.