main stem

noun

Updated on: 5 Apr 2018

Definition of main stem

: a main trunk or channel: such as

a : the main course of a river or stream

b : the main street of a city or town

Recent Examples of main stem from the Web

The improved nutrients from the wetlands will help provide food for salmon in the river's main stem.

— edward stratton, The Christian Science Monitor, "Farmers reshape land along Columbia River to bring salmon back," 2 Apr. 2018
These are flightless insects that must crawl up the main stem or trunk of the plant to reach the leaves.

— debbie arrington, sacbee, "This hungry mystery bug will always be female," 6 Oct. 2017
Cuttings are either taken from the mother plant or, if a plant is old or root bound, can be taken by cutting the head off the main stem and starting over.

— leslie crawford, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Propagating succulents? You can do it three ways," 8 Sep. 2017
Hernandez said there was no time frame for removing the drydock debris from the main stem of the channel, which is key to moving crude oil to refineries.

— libby george, Fortune, "U.S. Gas Prices Are Down As Oil Industry Rebounds from Harvey," 4 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'main stem.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of main stem

1671

in the meaning defined above

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