Definition of Stem
Stem
Stem


Definition/Meaning
(noun)
Main part of a plant or a supporting structure

e.g. The stem of the flower was very delicate and fragile.

(noun)
the main supporting portion of something, such as a vertical stroke when writing a letter or a musical note, the part of a wine glass that joins the bowl to the base, the shaft or rod in a winding mechanism, or the tube of a tobacco pipe;

e.g. She firmly formed the stem of the letter 'T'. He held the stem of the wine glass.

(noun)
the root portion of a word, to which elements can be added;

e.g. This meaning is conveyed by adding a suffix to the stem.

(noun)
in old or literary usage, the main line of ancestry/descent in a nation or family;

e.g. They are descended from the same stem as the royal family.

(noun)
the main upright piece of metal or wood located at the front of a ship, to which the sides of the ship are joined;

e.g. A head-on collision would weaken the stem of the ship.

(verb)
to be caused by something, or to originate from something;

e.g. All of these problems stem from an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise.

(verb)
to remove the stems from fruit or other plant products that are being used;

e.g. They helped their grandmother stem the green beans.

(verb)
to be able to move forward, often slowly or with difficulty, against a force such as a current or tide, used to describe the motion of a boat;

e.g. The ship's engine was powerful enough to help the ship stem the strong current.

(verb)
to restrict or stop the flow of something;

e.g. They tried to stem the leaks by plugging the holes where water was flowing in.

(verb)
to stop the development or spread of something, especially something undesirable;

e.g. They tried to stem the popularity of the inappropriate song among the students.

(abbreviation)
in academics, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (written as "STEM");

e.g. All of them are engaged in research in STEM subjects.



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