stem¹ (stĕm)

---

[Middle English, from Old English stefn, stemn.]

noun 

1. 1. The main ascending axis of a plant; a stalk or trunk.
   2. A slender stalk supporting or connecting another plant part, such as a leaf or flower.
2. A banana stalk bearing several bunches of bananas.
3. A connecting or supporting part, especially:
   1. The tube of a tobacco pipe.
   2. The slender upright support of a wineglass or goblet.
   3. The small projecting shaft with an expanded crown by which a watch is wound.
   4. The rounded rod in the center of certain locks about which the key fits and is turned.
   5. The shaft of a feather or hair.
   6. The upright stroke of a typeface or letter.
   7. Music The vertical line extending from the head of a note.
4. The main line of descent of a family.
5. Linguistics The main part of a word to which affixes are added.
6. Nautical The curved upright beam at the fore of a vessel into which the hull timbers are scarfed to form the prow.
7. The tubular glass structure mounting the filament or electrodes in an incandescent bulb or vacuum tube.

verb: stemmed, stem·ming, stems. 

intransitive verb 

To have or take origin or descent.

transitive verb 

1. To remove the stem of.
2. To provide with a stem.
3. To make headway against: managed to stem the rebellion.

idioms

from stem to stern

From one end to another.

synonyms:

stem¹arise, derive, emanate, flow, issue, originate, proceed, rise, spring These verbs mean to come forth or come into being: customs that stem from the past; misery that arose from war; rights that derive from citizenship; disapproval that emanated from the teacher; happiness that flows from their friendship; prejudice that issues from fear; a proposal that originated in the Congress; a mistake that proceeded from carelessness; rebellion that rises in the provinces; new industries that spring up.

stem² (stĕm)

---

[Middle English stemmen, from Old Norse stemma.]

verb: stemmed, stem·ming, stems. 

transitive verb 

1. To stop or hold back by or as if by damming; stanch.
2. To plug or tamp (a blast hole, for example).
3. Sports To point (skis) inward.

intransitive verb 

Sports

To point skis inward in order to slow down or turn.