Collins English-English Dictionary

stem [stεm]

1. 1. n the main axis of a plant, which bears the leaves, axillary buds, and flowers and contains a hollow cylinder of vascular tissue

2. 2. n any similar subsidiary structure in such plants that bears a flower, fruit, or leaf

3. 3. n a corresponding structure in algae and fungi

4. 4. n 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. 5. n a banana stalk with several bunches attached

6. 6. n the main line of descent or branch of a family

7. 7. n a round pin in some locks on which a socket in the end of a key fits and about which it rotates

8. 8. n 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. 9. n [linguistics] 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 root

10. 10. n the main, usually vertical, stroke of a letter or of a musical note such as a minim

11. 11. n [electronics] the tubular glass section projecting from the base of a light bulb or electronic valve, on which the filament or electrodes are mounted

12. 12. n the main upright timber or structure at the bow of a vessel

13. 13. n the very forward end of a vessel (esp in the phrase from stem to stern)

14. 14. vi. [intr; usually foll by from] to be derived; originate

    the instability stems from the war

15. 15. vt. [tr] to make headway against (a tide, wind, etc)

16. 16. vt. [tr] to remove or disengage the stem or stems from

17. 17. vt. [tr] to supply (something) with a stem or stems

18. 18. vt. [Etymology] Old English stemn; related to Old Norse stafn stem of a ship, German Stamm tribe, Gothic stoma basis, Latin stamen thread

stem [stεm]

1. 1. vt. [tr] to restrain or stop (the flow of something) by or as if by damming up

2. 2. vt. [tr] to pack tightly or stop up

3. 3. vt. [skiing] to manoeuvre (a ski or skis), as in performing a stem

4. 4. n [skiing] 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

5. 5. n [Etymology] C15 stemmen, from Old Norse stemma; related to Old Norse stamr blocked, stammering, German stemmen to prop; see stammer