plural stems
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 (such as a branch, petiole, or stipe) that supports another (such 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 sense 6
5
: something held to resemble a plant stem: such 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 (such as a goblet)
e
: a shaft of a watch used for winding
stemmed; stemming
1
: to make headway against (something, such as an adverse tide, current, or wind)
2
: to check or go counter to (something adverse)
stemmed; stemming
1
: to remove the stem from
2
: to make a stem for (something, such as an artificial flower)
: to occur or develop as a consequence : have or trace an origin
her success stems from hard work
stemmed; stemming
1
a
: to stop or dam up (something, such as a river)
b
: to stop or check by or as if by damming
2
: to turn (a ski) in stemming
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
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
Examples of stem in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah E. Yerkes, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
During her vice presidency, Harris was tasked with addressing the root causes of migration from Central America to stem the humanitarian crisis propelling families to travel north.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
Nneya Richards, Parents, 5 Nov. 2024
Try Out the Trend Here’s how to make okra water:
Buy fresh okra, wash the pods, then use a knife to trim off the stem ends.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stem 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Verb
Europe, meanwhile, became more invested in Tunisia’s ability to stem the outflow of migrants than in supporting the country’s democratization.
—Sarah E. Yerkes, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
During her vice presidency, Harris was tasked with addressing the root causes of migration from Central America to stem the humanitarian crisis propelling families to travel north.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
The Lego Icons Wildflower Bouquet includes 16 adjustable stems and features eight species of wildflowers, including cornflower, lavender, Welsh poppies, lupins, larkspurs, gerbera daisies, cow parsley, and leatherleaf ferns.
—Nneya Richards, Parents, 5 Nov. 2024
Try Out the Trend Here’s how to make okra water:
Buy fresh okra, wash the pods, then use a knife to trim off the stem ends.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stem
Dictionary Entries Near stem
Cite this Entry
“Stem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stem. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stem
1 of 4 noun1
a
: the main stalk of a plant that develops buds and shoots and usually grows above the ground
b
: a plant part (as the stalk of a leaf or flower) that supports some other part
2
: the bow of a ship
3
: the basic part of a word to which prefixes or suffixes may be added
4
: something held to resemble a plant stem: as
a
: the short upright line from the head of a musical note
b
: the part of a tobacco pipe from the bowl outward
c
: a main or heavy stroke of a letter
d
: the cylindrical support of a piece of stemware (as a wine glass)
e
: a shaft of a watch used for winding
stemless
adjective
-ləs
stem
2 of 4 verb
stemmed; stemming
1
: to remove the stem from
2
: to have or trace a beginning or growth : derive
illness that stemmed from unsanitary conditions
stem
3 of 4 verb
stemmed; stemming
: to make progress against
stem
4 of 4 verb
stemmed; stemming
1
: to stop or check by or as if by damming
stem the flow of blood from the wound
2
: to become checked or stopped
Etymology
Noun
Old English stefn, stemn "stem of a plant, stem of a ship"
Verb
Middle English stemmen "to dam up"; of Norse origin
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