stem

stem¹ [stem] n

↑leaf, ↑petal, ↑stem, ↑stalk

[: Old English; Origin: stefn, stemn]

1.) the long thin part of a plant, from which leaves, flowers, or fruit grow

= ↑stalk

2.) the long thin part of a wine glass, ↑vase etc, between the base and the wide top

3.) the narrow tube of a pipe used to smoke tobacco

4.) long-stemmed/short-stemmed etc

having a long stem, a short stem etc

▪ long-stemmed wine glasses

5.) the part of a word that stays the same when different endings are added to it, for example 'driv-' in 'driving'

stem ²

stem² past tense and past participle stemmed present participle stemming

v [T]

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old Norse; Origin: stemma. stem from 1900-2000 From STEM¹]

1.) to stop something from happening, spreading, or developing

stem the tide/flow/flood of sth

▪ The measures are meant to stem the tide of illegal immigration.

stem the growth/rise/decline etc

▪ an attempt to stem the decline in profits

2.) formal to stop the flow of a liquid

▪ A tight bandage should stem the bleeding.

stem from [stem from sth] phr v

to develop as a result of something else

▪ His headaches stemmed from vision problems.