stem Meaning & Definition
What Does Stem Mean?
Stem is a noun that means The stock of a family; a race or generation of progenitors. It can also mean A branch of a family. A branch, or group of branches, located outside a family or other cladistic group, but which is more closely related to that group than to any other taxon of the same rank. As a verb, it means To remove the stem from. As a verb, it means To stop, hinder (for instance, a river or blood).
Stem at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //stɛm// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | base, staunch and radical |
| Plural | stems |
| Verb forms | stems, stemming, stemmed |
Stem Definition (Noun)
- The stock of a family; a race or generation of progenitors.
- A branch of a family. A branch, or group of branches, located outside a family or other cladistic group, but which is more closely related to that group than to any other taxon of the same rank.
- A branch, or group of branches, located outside a family or other cladistic group, but which is more closely related to that group than to any other taxon of the same rank.
- An advanced or leading position; the lookout.
- The above-ground stalk (technically axis) of a vascular plant, and certain anatomically similar, below-ground organs such as rhizomes, bulbs, tubers, and corms.
- A slender supporting member of an individual part of a plant such as a flower or a leaf; also, by analogy, the shaft of a feather.
the stem of an apple or a cherry
- A narrow part on certain man-made objects, such as a wine glass, a tobacco pipe, a spoon.
- The main part of an uninflected word to which affixes may be added to form inflections of the word. A stem often has a more fundamental root. Systematic conjugations and declensions derive from their stems.
- A person's leg.
- The penis.
- A vertical stroke of a letter.
- A vertical stroke marking the length of a note in written music.
- A premixed portion of a track for use in audio mastering and remixing.
- The vertical or nearly vertical forward extension of the keel, to which the forward ends of the planks or strakes are attached.
- The front part of a vessel.
from stem to stern
- A component on a bicycle that connects the handlebars to the bicycle fork.
- A part of an anatomic structure considered without its possible branches or ramifications.
- A crack pipe; or the long, hollow portion of a similar pipe (i.e. meth pipe) resembling a crack pipe.
- A winder on a clock, watch, or similar mechanism.
Stem as a Verb
- To remove the stem from.
to stem cherries; to stem tobacco leaves
- To be caused or derived; to originate.
The current crisis stems from the short-sighted politics of the previous government.
- To descend in a family line.
- To direct the stem (of a ship) against; to make headway against.
- To hit with the stem of a ship; to ram.
- To ram (clay, etc.) into a blasting hole.
Verb
- To stop, hinder (for instance, a river or blood).
to stem a tide
- To move the feet apart and point the tips of the skis inward in order to slow down the speed or to facilitate a turn.
- To use a stance with the feet spread apart, bracing them in opposite directions against the two walls of a chimney or dihedral.
Noun
- Alternative form of steem.
Noun
- Alternative form of STEM.
Noun
- Alternative spelling of stemme (“lesbian who combines stud and femme traits”).
Noun
- A branch of a family.
- (chiefly British) A winder on a clock, watch, or similar mechanism
Noun
- A gleam of light; a flame.
Noun
- Acronym of science, technology, engineering, (and) mathematics.
Noun
- An electron microscope that transmits a very narrow beam of electrons through a sample; it can detect individual large or heavy atoms.
Synonyms of Stem
Stem synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Stem
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Stem in a Sentence
the stem of an apple or a cherry
from stem to stern
to stem cherries; to stem tobacco leaves
The current crisis stems from the short-sighted politics of the previous government.
to stem a tide
Word Forms & Grammar
stem (plural stems)
stem (third-person singular simple present stems, present participle stemming, simple past and past participle stemmed)
Words That Rhyme With Stem
Origin of Stem
Origin 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”).
Origin 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.
Origin 3: Acronym of science, technology, engineering, (and) mathematics.
Origin 4: Blend of stud + femme.
How Do You Say Stem?
The standard pronunciation of stem is //stɛm//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Quick Answers About Stem
Is stem a noun or a verb?
Stem is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for stem?
You can replace stem with words such as base, staunch and radical. See the full list of stem synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of stem?
The plural of stem is stems.
What is the past tense of stem?
The past tense of stem is stemmed. The present participle is stemming.