Stem Definition & Meaning

stem
noun
  1. (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed; "thematic vowels are part of the stem"
  2. a slender or elongated structure that supports a plant or fungus or a plant part or plant organ
  3. cylinder forming a long narrow part of something
  4. the tube of a tobacco pipe
  5. front part of a vessel or aircraft; "he pointed the bow of the boat toward the finish line"
  6. a turn made in skiing; the back of one ski is forced outward and the other ski is brought parallel to it
verb
  1. grow out of, have roots in, originate in; "The increase in the national debt stems from the last war"
  2. cause to point inward; "stem your skis"
  3. stop the flow of a liquid; "staunch the blood flow"; "stem the tide"
  4. remove the stem from; "for automatic natural language processing, the words must be stemmed"

Synonyms for stem

base adj

serving as or forming a base; "the painter applied a base coat followed by two finishing coats" of low birth or station

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bow noun

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces a slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut

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fore adv

near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane

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halt adj

disabled in the feet or legs; "a crippled soldier"; "a game leg" the state of inactivity following an interruption

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prow noun

front part of a vessel or aircraft; "he pointed the bow of the boat toward the finish line"

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radical adj

(used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm; "extremist political views"; "radical opinions on education

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root noun

(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts

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shank noun

a cut of meat (beef or veal or mutton or lamb) from the upper part of the leg the part of the human leg between the

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stalk noun

material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds a

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stanch verb

stop the flow of a liquid; "staunch the blood flow"; "stem the tide"

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"Stem" in song lyrics

See how stem is used in real songs:

  • "I'm keepin soaps in my mouth like coke stem"
    3rd Bass — Green Eggs and Swine
  • "Yo I hack phlegm, and grab the mic by it's stem"
    7L & Esoteric — Watch Me
  • "See, there's more than one way to uproot than pull another stem"
    Abstract Rude w/ Moka Only, Prevail — And That You Can Quote

Words that rhyme with stem

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Usage tips for "stem"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "stem" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for stem to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with stem ↔ Synonyms for stem 🔬 Words containing stem

Frequently asked questions

What does stem mean?
(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed; "thematic vowels are part of the stem" a slender or elongated structure that supports a plant or fungus or a plant part or plant organ cylinder forming a long narrow part of something the tube of a tobacco pipe front part of a vessel or aircraft; "he pointed the bow of the boat toward the finish line" a turn made in skiing
What part of speech is stem?
Stem is a noun and a verb.
How many definitions does stem have?
Stem has 10 definitions across 2 parts of speech (noun, verb).

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