<p><strong>noun</strong></p><ul><li>the ascending axis of a plant, whether above or below ground, which ordinarily grows in an opposite direction to the root or descending axis.</li><li>the stalk that supports a leaf, flower, or fruit.</li><li>the main body of that portion of a tree, shrub, or other plant which is above ground; trunk; stalk.</li><li>a cut flower: We bought roses at the flower market for 50¢ a stem.</li><li>a petiole; peduncle; pedicel.</li><li>a stalk of bananas.</li><li>something resembling or suggesting a leaf or flower stalk.</li><li>a long, slender part: the stem of a tobacco pipe.</li><li>the slender, vertical part of a goblet, wineglass, etc., between the bowl and the base.</li><li>Informal. a drinking glass having a stem.</li><li>the handle of a spoon.</li><li>a projection from the rim of a watch, having on its end a knob for winding the watch.</li><li>the circular rod in some locks about which the key fits and rotates.</li><li>the rod or spindle by which a valve is operated from outside.</li><li>the stock or line of descent of a family; ancestry or pedigree.</li><li>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-.</li><li>Music. the vertical line forming part of a note.</li><li>stems, Slang. the legs of a human being.</li><li>the main or relatively thick stroke of a letter in printing.</li></ul><p><strong>verb</strong></p><ul><li>to remove the stem from (a leaf, fruit, etc.): Stem the cherries before cooking.</li></ul><p><strong>verb</strong></p><ul><li>to arise or originate: This project stems from last week's lecture.</li></ul>