stem
stehm
Stem (noun) means the main stalk of a plant that supports leaves, flowers, or fruit. Example: “The tulip had a long green stem that bent in the wind.”
noun
1
The main stalk of a plant that supports leaves, flowers, or fruit.
"The tulip had a long green stem that bent in the wind."
"Cut the stem at an angle so the flower can drink more water."
"She trimmed the stems before putting the roses in a vase."
2
A slender supporting part of an object, such as a wine glass or tobacco pipe.
"The stem of the glass snapped when the waiter dropped it."
"Old clay pipes had a thin stem that often broke."
"He held the wine glass by its stem."
3
The base form of a word to which endings are added.
"To make the past tense, you add "-ed" to the stem of the verb."
"Learners often check the stem of a verb before adding an ending."
"The stem of "running" is "run.""
verb
1
To originate or arise from something.
"Most of our disagreements stem from simple misunderstandings."
"Her fear of dogs stems from a childhood incident."
"Many of the delays stem from poor planning."
2
To stop or hold back the flow or spread of something.
"Farmers built a wall of sandbags to stem the flooding in the field."
"Doctors worked quickly to stem the bleeding."
"The government introduced measures to stem the rise in unemployment."
How to use stem
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often the stalk of a plant, but also used for anything shaped like one, and — as a verb — for stopping something from spreading.
Common mistake
"Stem from" (originate) and "stem" (stop) look identical but mean opposite things — check the surrounding sentence carefully.
Common pairings
stem from
stem the flow
stem the tide
stem cell
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like stem.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- stems
- Third person singular
- stems
- Past tense
- stemmed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tulip had a long green _____ that bent in the wind.
Etymology
From Old English stemn, "stem, trunk," from a Germanic root meaning "to stand" — the same deep root that gives us "stand" and "stamen."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “stem” mean?
The word “stem” means the main stalk of a plant that supports leaves, flowers, or fruit. In plain terms, most often the stalk of a plant, but also used for anything shaped like one, and — as a verb — for stopping something from spreading.
How do you pronounce “stem”?
“Stem” is pronounced stehm (/stɛm/ in IPA).
How do you use “stem” in a sentence?
Here is “stem” used in a sentence: “She trimmed the stems before putting the roses in a vase.”
What part of speech is “stem”?
Depending on how it is used, “stem” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “stem” come from?
The word “stem” comes from Old English. From Old English stemn, "stem, trunk," from a Germanic root meaning "to stand" — the same deep root that gives us "stand" and "stamen.".
Is “stem” a common word?
“Stem” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “stem” have?
“Stem” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the main stalk of a plant that supports leaves, flowers, or fruit.
What is the difference between a stem and a stalk?
A stem is the main supporting structure of a plant that holds up its leaves, flowers, or fruit. A stalk often refers to the stem of a single leaf, flower, or fruit, or to a tall, thick stem, so all stalks are stems but not every stem is called a stalk.
What is the difference between a stem and a trunk?
A stem supports the leaves, flowers, and fruit of a plant and is usually relatively slender and often soft or green. A trunk is the thick, woody main stem of a tree, so 'trunk' is generally reserved for large, woody plants.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include stem:
