I. ˈstem noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English stefn, stemn stem of a plant or ship; akin to Old High German stam plant stem and probably to Greek stamnos wine jar, histanai to set — more at stand
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : the main trunk of a plant ; specifically : a primary plant axis that develops buds and shoots instead of roots
b. : a plant part (as a branch, petiole, or stipe) that supports another (as a leaf or fruit)
c. : the complete fruiting stalk of a banana plant with its bananas
2.
a. : the main upright member at the bow of a ship
b. : the bow or prow of a ship — compare stern
3. : a line of ancestry : stock ; especially : a fundamental line from which others have arisen
4. : the part of an inflected word that remains after the inflected part is removed
strength is the stem of strengths
also : root 6
5. : something held to resemble a plant stem: as
a. : a main or heavy stroke of a letter
b. : the short perpendicular line extending from the head of a musical note
c. : the part of a tobacco pipe from the bowl outward
d. : the cylindrical support of a piece of stemware (as a goblet)
e. : a shaft of a watch used for winding
•
- from stem to stern
II. transitive verb
( stemmed ; stem·ming )
Etymology: Middle English (Scots) stemmen to keep a course, from stem (I) (of a ship)
Date: 1593
1. : to make headway against (as an adverse tide, current, or wind)
2. : to check or go counter to (something adverse)
• stem·mer noun
III. verb
( stemmed ; stem·ming )
Etymology: stem (I) (of a plant)
Date: 1724
transitive verb
1. : to remove the stem from
2. : to make stems for (as artificial flowers)
intransitive verb
: to occur or develop as a consequence : have or trace an origin
her success stem s from hard work
Synonyms: see spring
• stem·mer noun
IV. verb
( stemmed ; stem·ming )
Etymology: Middle English stemmen to dam up, from Old Norse stemma; akin to Middle High German stemmen to dam up and probably to Lithuanian stumti to shove
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to stop or dam up (as a river)
b. : to stop or check by or as if by damming ; especially : stanch
stem a flow of blood
2. : to turn (a ski) in stemming
intransitive verb
1. : to restrain or check oneself ; also : to become checked or stanched
2. : to slide the heel of one ski or of both skis outward usually in making or preparing to make a turn
V. noun
Date: 1700
1. : check , dam
2. : an act or instance of stemming on skis