stem

¹stem

noun \ˈstem\

Definition of STEM

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

— from stem to stern

: throughout, thoroughly

Origin of STEM

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Botany Terms

annual, burgeon, chloroplast, nomenclature, succulent, sylvan, xylem

Rhymes with STEM

em, femme, gem, hem, LEM, m, mem, phlegm, REM, Shem, them

²stem

transitive verb

stemmedstem·ming

Definition of STEM

1

: to make headway against (as an adverse tide, current, or wind)

2

: to check or go counter to (something adverse)

— stem·mer noun

Origin of STEM

Middle English (Scots) stemmen to keep a course, from ¹stem (of a ship)

First Known Use: 1593

³stem

verb

stemmedstem·ming

Definition of STEM

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>

— stem·mer noun

Origin of STEM

¹stem (of a plant)

First Known Use: 1724

⁴stem

verb

stemmedstem·ming

Definition of STEM

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

Origin of STEM

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

First Known Use: 14th century

⁵stem

noun

Definition of STEM

1

: check, dam

2

: an act or instance of stemming on skis

First Known Use of STEM

1700

stem

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Plant axis that emerges from the roots, supports the branches, bears buds and shoots with leaves, and contains the vascular (conducting) tissues (xylem and phloem) that transport water, minerals, and food to other parts of the plant. The pith (a central core of spongy tissue) is surrounded by strands (in dicots; see cotyledon) or bundles (in monocots) of conducting xylem and phloem, then by the cortex and outermost epidermis, or bark. The cambium (an area of actively dividing cells) lies just below the bark. Lateral buds and leaves grow out of the stem at intervals called nodes; the intervals on the stem between the nodes are called internodes. In flowering plants, various stem modifications (rhizome, corm, tuber, bulb, stolon) let the plant survive dormantly for years, store food, or sprout asexually. All green stems perform photosynthesis, as do leaves; in plants such as the cacti (see cactus) and asparagus, the stem is the chief site of photosynthesis.