stemmed

UK: /stɛmd/ US: /stɛmd/ ,(stemd)

From the verb stem: (⇒ conjugate)

stemmed is: ⓘ

v past

v past p

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

stemmed /stɛmd/   adj. 

1. Botany (used after a root or another word) having a (certain kind of) stem:
   long-stemmed roses.
2. having the stem or stems removed.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stemmed (stemd),  adj. 

1. Botany having a stem or a specified kind of stem (often used in combination):
   a long-stemmed rose.
2. having the stem or stems removed:
   stemmed cherries.

• stem¹ + -ed² 1570–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stemmed / stɛmd/ adjective

1. having a stem
2. (in combination): a thin-stemmed plant, a long-stemmed glass
3. having had the stem or stems removed

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

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stem / stɛm/ noun

1. the main axis of a plant, which bears the leaves, axillary buds, and flowers and contains a hollow cylinder of vascular tissue
2. any similar subsidiary structure in such plants that bears a flower, fruit, or leaf
3. a corresponding structure in algae and fungi
4. any long slender part, such as the hollow part of a tobacco pipe that lies between the bit and the bowl, or the support between the base and the bowl of a wineglass, goblet, etc
5. a banana stalk with several bunches attached
6. the main line of descent or branch of a family
7. a round pin in some locks on which a socket in the end of a key fits and about which it rotates
8. any projecting feature of a component: a shank or cylindrical pin or rod, such as the pin that carries the winding knob on a watch
9. the form of a word that remains after removal of all inflectional affixes; the root of a word, esp as occurring together with a thematic element
   Compare root19
10. the main, usually vertical, stroke of a letter or of a musical note such as a minim
11. the tubular glass section projecting from the base of a light bulb or electronic valve, on which the filament or electrodes are mounted
12. the main upright timber or structure at the bow of a vessel
13. the very forward end of a vessel (esp in the phrase from stem to stern)

verb (stems, stemming, stemmed)

1. (intransitive) usually followed by from: to be derived; originate: the instability stems from the war
2. (transitive) to make headway against (a tide, wind, etc)
3. (transitive) to remove or disengage the stem or stems from
4. (transitive) to supply (something) with a stem or stems

Etymology: Old English stemn; related to Old Norse stafn stem of a ship, German Stamm tribe, Gothic stōma basis, Latin stāmen thread

ˈstemˌlike adjective

stem / stɛm/ verb (stems, stemming, stemmed)

1. (transitive) to restrain or stop (the flow of something) by or as if by damming up
2. (transitive) to pack tightly or stop up
3. to manoeuvre (a ski or skis), as in performing a stem

noun

1. a technique in which the heel of one ski or both skis is forced outwards from the direction of movement in order to slow down or turn

Etymology: 15th Century stemmen, from Old Norse stemma; related to Old Norse stamr blocked, stammering, German stemmen to prop; see stammer