1. the ascending axis of a plant, whether above or below ground, which ordinarily grows in an opposite direction to the root or descending axis.
2. the stalk that supports a leaf, flower, or fruit.
3. the main body of that portion of a tree, shrub, or other plant which is above ground; trunk; stalk.
4. a cut flower: We bought roses at the flower market for 50¢ a stem.
5. a petiole; peduncle; pedicel.
6. a stalk of bananas.
7. something resembling or suggesting a leaf or flower stalk.
8. a long, slender part: the stem of a tobacco pipe.
9. the slender, vertical part of a goblet, wineglass, etc., between the bowl and the base.
10. a drinking glass having a stem.
11. the handle of a spoon.
12. a projection from the rim of a watch, having on its end a knob for winding the watch.
13. the circular rod in some locks about which the key fits and rotates.
14. the rod or spindle by which a valve is operated from outside.
15. the stock or line of descent of a family; ancestry or pedigree.
16. the underlying form, often consisting of a root plus an affix, to which the inflectional endings of a word are added, as tend-, the stem in Latin tendere “to stretch,” the root of which is ten-.
17. the vertical line forming part of a note.
18. the legs of a human being.
19. the main or relatively thick stroke of a letter in printing.

20. to remove the stem from (a leaf, fruit, etc.): Stem the cherries before cooking.

21. to arise or originate: This project stems from last week's lecture.

1. to stop, check, or restrain.
2. to dam up; stop the flow of (a stream, river, or the like).
3. to tamp, plug, or make tight, as a hole or joint.
4. to maneuver (a ski or skis) in executing a stem.
5. to stanch (bleeding).

6. to execute a stem.

7. the act or instance of a skier pushing the heel of one or both skis outward so that the heels are far apart, as in making certain turns or slowing down.

1. to make headway against (a tide, current, gale, etc.).
2. to make progress against (any opposition).

1. (at the bow of a vessel) an upright into which the side timbers or plates are jointed.
2. the forward part of a vessel (often opposed to stern).

1. to arrange the loading of (a merchant vessel) within a specified time.

1. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, considered as a group of academic or career fields (often used attributively): degree programs in STEM disciplines;teaching STEM in high school.

1. the main axis of a plant, which bears the leaves, axillary buds, and flowers and contains a hollow cylinder of vascular tissue
2. any similar subsidiary structure in such plants that bears a flower, fruit, or leaf
3. a corresponding structure in algae and fungi
4. any long slender part, such as the hollow part of a tobacco pipe that lies between the bit and the bowl, or the support between the base and the bowl of a wineglass, goblet, etc
5. a banana stalk with several bunches attached
6. the main line of descent or branch of a family
7. a round pin in some locks on which a socket in the end of a key fits and about which it rotates
8. any projecting feature of a component: a shank or cylindrical pin or rod, such as the pin that carries the winding knob on a watch
9. the form of a word that remains after removal of all inflectional affixes; the root of a word, esp as occurring together with a thematic element
10. the main, usually vertical, stroke of a letter or of a musical note such as a minim
11. the tubular glass section projecting from the base of a light bulb or electronic valve, on which the filament or electrodes are mounted
• the main upright timber or structure at the bow of a vessel
• the very forward end of a vessel (esp in the phrase from stem to stern)

13. to be derived; originate
14. to make headway against (a tide, wind, etc)
15. to remove or disengage the stem or stems from
16. to supply (something) with a stem or stems

1. to restrain or stop (the flow of something) by or as if by damming up
2. to pack tightly or stop up
3. to manoeuvre (a ski or skis), as in performing a stem

4. a technique in which the heel of one ski or both skis is forced outwards from the direction of movement in order to slow down or turn

1. the South African national anthem until 1991, when part of it was incorporated into the current anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika

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• SPEED-UP (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples
• PARTICULAR SOLUTION (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples
• PESKY (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples
• MOUNTING (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples