main stem
noun
: 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
Examples of main stem in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Today the Snail Darter can be found along 400 miles of the river's main stem and multiple tributaries.
—
Robert Kunzig, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023
Vining tomatoes are commonly grown as cordons, trained to grow upwards with one main stem, with side shoots removed to discourage a more branching form.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 25 July 2023
Separately, the Cambodian government has halted dam building on the Mekong main stem until at least 2030.
—Byrichard Stone, science.org, 30 May 2023
In general, tomato plants produce main stems and main leaf branches.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2023
Divide by removing new tubers from main stem.
—oregonlive, 5 Apr. 2021
Tomatoes, unlike most plants, can produce roots along their main stem.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Mar. 2023
Occasionally, the plants will produce fast-growing water shoots, which are branches that grow off the main stem.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 31 Jan. 2023
Where normal bird feathers have single spines that lay in the same plane as the main stem, the birds of paradise had feathers that branched into numerous tiny barbules that curved up and toward the feathers' tips.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 9 Jan. 2018
See More
Robert Kunzig, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023
Vining tomatoes are commonly grown as cordons, trained to grow upwards with one main stem, with side shoots removed to discourage a more branching form.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 25 July 2023
Separately, the Cambodian government has halted dam building on the Mekong main stem until at least 2030.
—Byrichard Stone, science.org, 30 May 2023
In general, tomato plants produce main stems and main leaf branches.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2023
Divide by removing new tubers from main stem.
—oregonlive, 5 Apr. 2021
Tomatoes, unlike most plants, can produce roots along their main stem.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Mar. 2023
Occasionally, the plants will produce fast-growing water shoots, which are branches that grow off the main stem.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 31 Jan. 2023
Where normal bird feathers have single spines that lay in the same plane as the main stem, the birds of paradise had feathers that branched into numerous tiny barbules that curved up and toward the feathers' tips.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 9 Jan. 2018
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'main stem.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1671, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near main stem
Cite this Entry
“Main stem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/main%20stem. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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