stem

Speech parts

1. stem - Noun

2. stem - Verb

3. Stem - Proper noun

Meaning

Alt. of Steem

The principal body of a tree, shrub, or plant, of any kind; the main stock; the part which supports the branches or the head or top.

A little branch which connects a fruit, flower, or leaf with a main branch; a peduncle, pedicel, or petiole; as, the stem of an apple or a cherry.

A curved piece of timber to which the two sides of a ship are united at the fore end. The lower end of it is scarfed to the keel, and the bowsprit rests upon its upper end. Hence, the forward part of a vessel; the bow.

Fig.: An advanced or leading position; the lookout.

Anything resembling a stem or stalk; as, the stem of a tobacco pipe; the stem of a watch case, or that part to which the ring, by which it is suspended, is attached.

That part of a plant which bears leaves, or rudiments of leaves, whether rising above ground or wholly subterranean.

The entire central axis of a feather.

The basal portion of the body of one of the Pennatulacea, or of a gorgonian.

The short perpendicular line added to the body of a note; the tail of a crotchet, quaver, semiquaver, etc.

The part of an inflected word which remains unchanged (except by euphonic variations) throughout a given inflection; theme; base.

To remove the stem or stems from; as, to stem cherries; to remove the stem and its appendages (ribs and veins) from; as, to stem tobacco leaves.

To ram, as clay, into a blasting hole.

To oppose or cut with, or as with, the stem of a vessel; to resist, or make progress against; to stop or check the flow of, as a current.

To move forward against an obstacle, as a vessel against a current.

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Examples

Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil. Plato

Many of the insights of the saint stem from their experience as sinners. Eric Hoffer

Mankind's true moral test, its fundamental test (which lies deeply buried from view), consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy animals. And in this respect mankind has suffered a fundamental debacle, a debacle so fundamental that all others stem from it. Milan Kundera

The fruit falls not far from the stem. Dutch Proverb

Great events may stem from words of no importance. African Congo Proverb

It is easier to stem the brook than the river. Danish Proverb

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