stem

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English stefn, stemn stem of a plant or ship; akin to Old High German stam plant stem and probably to Greek stamnos wine jar, histanai to set — more at stand Date: before 12th century 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 (as a branch, petiole, or stipe) that supports another (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 6 5. something held to resemble a plant stem: 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 (as a goblet) e. a shaft of a watch used for winding II. transitive verb (stemmed; stemming) Etymology: Middle English (Scots) stemmen to keep a course, from 1stem (of a ship) Date: 1593 1. to make headway against (as an adverse tide, current, or wind) 2. to check or go counter to (something adverse) • stemmer noun III. verb (stemmed; stemming) Etymology: 1stem (of a plant) Date: 1724 transitive verb 1. to remove the stem from 2. to make stems for (as artificial flowers) intransitive verb to occur or develop as a consequence ; have or trace an origin <

her success stems from hard work

> Synonyms: see spring • stemmer noun IV. verb (stemmed; stemming) Etymology: Middle English stemmen to dam up, from Old Norse stemma; akin to Middle High German stemmen to dam up and probably to Lithuanian stumti to shove Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to stop or dam up (as a river) b. to stop or check by or as if by damming; especially stanch <

stem a flow of blood

> 2. to turn (a ski) in stemming intransitive verb 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 V. noun Date: 1700 1. check, dam 2. an act or instance of stemming on skis