stem from

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

stem¹ /stɛm/   n., v., stemmed, stem•ming. 
n. [countable]

1. Botany the part of a plant that grows in an opposite direction to the root and that supports a leaf, flower, or fruit.
2. a long, slender, supporting part, as of a wineglass or a tobacco pipe.
3. Time a part that sticks out from the body of a watch, having on its end a knob for winding the watch.
4. Grammar a form of a word, made of a root alone or a root plus another part, such as a prefix or suffix, to which certain endings may be added:
   The word kindness is a stem made up of a root, kind, and a suffix, -ness, to which another suffix, -es, could be added.

v. 

5. stem from, [~ + from + object] to come from;
   arise or originate from:
   Most of our problems stem from a lack of funds.

stem² /stɛm/  v. [~ + object] , stemmed, stem•ming. 

1. to check or slow down, esp. the flow of something:
   worked to stem the flow of blood from the wound.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stem¹ (stem),  n., v., stemmed, stem•ming. 

n. 

1. Botany 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. Botany the stalk that supports a leaf, flower, or fruit.
3. Botany the main body of that portion of a tree, shrub, or other plant which is above ground;
   trunk;
   stalk.
4. Botany a cut flower:
   We bought roses at the flower market for 50¢ a stem.
5. Botany a petiole;
   peduncle;
   pedicel.
6. Botany 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. Informal Terms a drinking glass having a stem.
11. the handle of a spoon.
12. Time a projection from the rim of a watch, having on its end a knob for winding the watch.
13. Building the circular rod in some locks about which the key fits and rotates.
14. Building 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. Grammar 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-. Cf. base ¹ (def. 18), theme (def. 5).
17. Music and Dance the vertical line forming part of a note.
18. Slang Terms stems, the legs of a human being.
19. the main or relatively thick stroke of a letter in printing.

v.t. 

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

v.i. 

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

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English stemn, stefn, equivalent. to ste- (variant of sta-, base of standan to stand) + -mn- suffix; akin to German Stamm stem, tribe; see staff¹

stem′less, adj. 
stem′like′, adj. 

stem²  (stem), v., stemmed, stem•ming, n. 
v.t. 

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

v.i. 
6. Sport [Skiing.] to execute a stem.

n. 
7. Sport [Skiing.] 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.
• Old Norse stemma to dam or Middle Low German stemmen
• late Middle English stemmen 1400–50

stem³ (stem),  v.t., stemmed, stem•ming. 

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

• verb, verbal use of stem⁴ 1585–95

stem⁴ (stem),  n. [Naut.]

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

• the cognate with Old Norse stamn, stafn in same sense
• bef. 900; continuing Old English stefn, stemn end-timber; special use of stem¹; Middle English stampne, stamyn(e) apparently

stem⁵ (stem), v.t., stemmed, stem•ming. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms to arrange the loading of (a merchant vessel) within a specified time.

• Old Norse stefna to sail directly, aim, derivative of stafn stem⁴
• variant of steven to direct one's course 1895–1900