(noun)
the main stalk or trunk of a plant, usually located above the ground, or the axis supporting plant parts such as leaves, flowers, and fruits,
e.g. He broke the long stem of the flower and plucked it from the bush.
(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.
