stem
gb/stˈɛm/ us/stˈɛm/
A2
English
~ 5900
szár, ered, megfékez, elállít, visszaszorít, szótő, leszedi a szárát, szártalanít, származás, eredet, orrtőke
NOUN
A2
1
szár
A2
Usage pattern:
the stem of [a plant/flower]
Cut the rose at an angle on the stem to keep it fresh longer.
A rózsa szárát ferdén vágd le, hogy tovább friss maradjon.
The stem of the plant was too weak to hold the heavy flower.
A növény szára túl gyenge volt ahhoz, hogy megtartsa a nehéz virágot.
Tiny insects were crawling up the stem toward the leaves.
If you damage the stem, the whole flower may die.
New shoots are growing from the base of the main stem.
Learner examples
She put the long stem of the flower in water.
A virág hosszú szárát vízbe tette.
The stem of this plant is very thick.
Ennek a növénynek nagyon vastag a szára.
Ants are walking on the stem to the leaves.
He broke the stem when he picked the flower.
This tree has a short stem and many branches.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "stem" with "branch". The stem is the main central part of the plant, while branches grow out from the main stem or trunk.
Meaning
main stalk of a plant
Collocations
plant stem
|flower stem
|tree stem
|thick stem
|long stem
|woody stem
Synonyms
stalk (Very close in meaning; often used especially for thinner or individual plant stems.)
Antonyms
root (Refers to the underground part of a plant, the opposite end from the stem.)
Themes
nature
|biology
|daily life
Definition
The main long part of a plant or flower that holds the leaves or flower head.
The main, usually upright stalk of a plant or flower, supporting the leaves, buds, or blossoms.
NOUN
B1
2
szár
B1
Usage pattern:
the stem of [an object]
She held the wine glass by the stem to avoid warming the drink.
A száránál fogta a borospoharat, hogy ne melegítse fel az italt.
The stem of his old pipe had a small crack.
A régi pipája szárán volt egy kis repedés.
The watch stem is used to wind the watch and set the time.
A long, elegant stem gives the glass a delicate look.
He glued the broken stem back onto the trophy.
Learner examples
Please hold the glass by the stem.
Kérlek, a száránál fogd meg a poharat.
The stem of my pipe is broken.
Eltört a pipám szára.
This cup has no stem; it has a handle.
She cleaned the stem of the glass carefully.
He turned the small stem on his watch to change the time.
Common mistake:
Learners may call this part a "handle", but a handle usually sticks out to the side, while a stem usually runs straight up or down and often supports the main part.
Meaning
long thin supporting part
Collocations
wine-glass stem
|glass stem
|pipe stem
|broken stem
|short stem
|long stem
Synonyms
shaft (Similar idea of a long, narrow part, but used more for tools, weapons, or mechanical parts than for glasses and pipes.)
Themes
objects
|daily life
|design
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The long, narrow part of an object, like a glass or pipe, that supports it or that you hold.
The long, thin part of an object that supports another part or that you hold.
VERB
B2
3
ered
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] stems from [a cause/source]
Many of their arguments stem from poor communication.
Sok vitájuk a rossz kommunikációból ered.
Her interest in medicine stems from her mother being a doctor.
Az orvoslás iránti érdeklődése abból ered, hogy az édesanyja orvos.
The current crisis stems from years of financial mismanagement.
These fears often stem from childhood experiences.
The tradition stems from an ancient harvest festival.
Learner examples
His stress stems from long working hours.
A stressze a hosszú munkaidőből ered.
The problem stems from a small mistake in the plan.
A probléma a tervben lévő apró hibából ered.
My love of music stems from my family.
Many health issues stem from a bad diet.
This rule stems from a law made many years ago.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"stem to"* instead of "stem from". Use the fixed pattern "[something] stems from [cause]" to show where something comes from.
Meaning
to come or develop from
Collocations
problems stem from
|issue stems from
|idea stems from
|conflict stems from
|differences stem from
Synonyms
originate (More formal; focuses on the starting point of something in time or place.)
Antonyms
lead to (Describes the result rather than the cause; conceptually the reverse direction of "stem from".)
Themes
thinking
|causality
|discussion
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To start or come from a cause, place, or situation.
To originate, develop, or be caused by something; to come from a particular source.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
to stem [the flow/bleeding/rise of something]
Doctors worked quickly to stem the bleeding from his wound.
Az orvosok gyorsan dolgoztak, hogy elállítsák a sebéből eredő vérzést.
New policies were introduced to stem the flow of illegal weapons.
Új intézkedéseket vezettek be az illegális fegyverek áramlásának visszaszorítására.
They hope the agreement will stem the rise in food prices.
The government failed to stem the spread of the disease.
Urgent action is needed to stem the damage to the environment.
Learner examples
We must act now to stem the problem.
Azonnal cselekednünk kell, hogy megfékezzük a problémát.
The nurse tried to stem the bleeding.
A nővér megpróbálta elállítani a vérzést.
The new rules did not stem the violence.
The company wants to stem the loss of money.
Strong laws are needed to stem the spread of the virus.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with "stem from". Here, "stem" usually takes a direct object (e.g., "stem the flow"), while "stem from" is followed by the source (e.g., "problems stem from poverty").
Meaning
to stop or limit something
Collocations
stem the flow
|stem the bleeding
|stem the tide
|stem the spread
|efforts to stem
Synonyms
halt (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and can sound more sudden or complete.)
Antonyms
fuel (Means to make something, especially something negative like anger or conflict, stronger instead of stopping it.)
Themes
problems
|medicine
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stop or reduce the flow of something, or to stop something bad from growing.
To stop or slow the flow of something, especially liquid or something harmful or unwanted.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
5
szótő
B1
Usage pattern:
the stem of [a word]
In the word "unhappiness", the stem is "happy".
Az „unhappiness” szó szótöve a „happy”.
Learners first identify the stem and then add the correct ending.
A tanulók először azonosítják a szótövet, majd hozzáteszik a megfelelő végződést.
The plural form is made by adding "-s" to the stem.
Some verbs change their stem in the past tense.
The stem carries the core meaning of the word.
Learner examples
In "careful", the stem is "care".
A „careful” szóban a szótő a „care”.
We add endings to the stem to make new forms.
Végződéseket adunk a szótőhöz, hogy új alakokat hozzunk létre.
Please write the stem of each verb on the list.
The stem does not change, but the ending can change.
Find the stem before you add the plural ending.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think the stem always equals the dictionary form. In some languages and in some analyses, the stem can be slightly different from the form you see in the dictionary.
Meaning
base part of a word
Collocations
verb stem
|noun stem
|word stem
|common stem
|derive from the stem
Synonyms
root (Often used similarly, but "root" can refer to the most basic historical form, while "stem" is the form to which endings are added in grammar.)
Themes
language
|linguistics
|education
|communication
Definition
The main part of a word that does not change, to which you can add beginnings or endings.
In linguistics, the main part of a word to which prefixes or suffixes can be added.
VERB
B2
6
szártalanít
C1
Usage pattern:
to stem [fruit/vegetables/leaves]
Wash and stem the strawberries before adding them to the salad.
Mosd meg az epreket, és szedd le a szárukat, mielőtt a salátához adod őket.
The recipe tells you to stem and chop the kale.
A recept szerint el kell távolítani a fodros kel szárát, majd fel kell aprítani.
Workers sorted and stemmed the grapes at the winery.
Stem the cherries carefully so you do not damage the fruit.
First, stem the spinach leaves and discard the thick parts.
Learner examples
Please wash and stem the grapes.
Kérlek, mosd meg a szőlőt, és szedd le a szárát.
She stemmed the cherries for the pie.
Leszedte a cseresznye szárát a pitéhez.
We need to stem the spinach before we cook it.
He sat at the table and stemmed the strawberries.
The cook asked me to stem and cut the beans.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this sense is common in all contexts. It is mainly used in recipes or food preparation instructions, not for general everyday actions.
Meaning
to remove stems from food
Collocations
stem the cherries
|washed and stemmed
|stem and seed
|sorted and stemmed
|picked and stemmed
Synonyms
destem (A more technical or specialized form, especially used in wine-making and food processing.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|daily life
|food_drink
Definition
To take off the long, thin part (the stem) from fruit, vegetables, or leaves.
To remove the stems from leaves, fruit, or other plant parts, especially when preparing food.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
7
Usage pattern:
a [national/ethnic] stem
The language has its roots in a Germanic stem.
A nyelv germán eredetű.
Several families of Italian stem settled in the region during the nineteenth century.
A 19. században több olasz származású család telepedett le a térségben.
The custom can be traced back to a Celtic stem.
Writers of foreign stem contributed greatly to the city’s culture.
The word itself belongs to a Latin stem.
Learner examples
The language comes from a Germanic stem.
A nyelv germán eredetű.
Many people of Italian stem live in this city.
Sok olasz származású ember él ebben a városban.
This word is from a Latin stem.
The custom has a Celtic stem.
Some family names show a Slavic stem.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use this sense in everyday conversation about family. In modern English, words like "background", "heritage", or "origin" are more common; this use of "stem" is mostly formal or academic.
Meaning
main family or ethnic line
Collocations
Germanic stem
|Celtic stem
|Slavic stem
|of foreign stem
|of noble stem
Synonyms
lineage (Very similar, but used more widely in modern English; "stem" in this sense sounds more formal or old-fashioned.)
Themes
history
|society
|identity
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A main family line or people that something or someone comes from.
The main family line, ethnic group, or language group from which a person or thing comes.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
8
orrtőke
C2
Usage pattern:
the stem of [a ship]
The waves broke against the sharp stem of the ship.
A hullámok a hajó éles orrtőkéjén törtek meg.
Damage to the stem required the vessel to be taken out of service.
Az orrtőke sérülése miatt a hajót ki kellett vonni a forgalomból.
The angle of the stem affects how the ship moves through the water.
Rust had formed along the stem and needed to be removed.
They strengthened the stem before the ship’s first voyage.
Learner examples
The front part of the ship is called the stem.
A hajó elején lévő részt orrtőkének nevezik.
Workers painted the stem and the rest of the hull.
A munkások lefestették az orrtőkét és a hajótest többi részét.
A large wave hit the stem of the boat.
The stem cuts through the water as the ship moves.
They checked the stem for any damage.
Meaning
forward vertical part of a ship
Collocations
ship's stem
|bow and stem
|stem and stern
|rake of the stem
|stem post
Antonyms
stern (Refers to the back end of a ship, opposite to the stem at the front.)
Themes
transport
|engineering
|transportation
Definition
The main strong piece of wood or metal at the front of a ship’s body.
In shipbuilding, the upright or nearly upright structural piece at the very front of a ship’s hull, forming the leading edge of the bow.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stem
IPA
GB/stˈɛm/
US/stˈɛm/
Syllables & stress
stem (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stem)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: stem
- Plural: stems
Verb
- Base: stem
- 3rd Person Singular: stems
- Present Participle: stemming
- Past: stemmed
Word family
Forms
stems
noun
stemming
verb
stemmed
verb
Negative and opposite forms
stemless
adjective
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: stemming Verb
- Irregular past: stemmed Verb
Expressions
stem from
1/stˈɛm fɹˈʌm/
phrasal verb
to come or be caused by
To start, come, or be caused by something.
Examples
- Most of his problems stem from a lack of sleep.
- Their disagreement stems from a simple misunderstanding.
- The new policy stems from public pressure for change.
stem the bleeding
1/stˈɛm ðə blˈidɪŋ/
fixed phrase
to stop bleeding or loss
To stop or reduce bleeding, or to stop a serious loss, such as money or jobs.
Examples
- Paramedics worked to stem the bleeding before moving the patient.
- The company cut costs in an attempt to stem the bleeding in its finances.
- Doctors managed to stem the bleeding after the operation.
stem the flow (of)
1/stˈɛm ðə flˈoʊ əv/
fixed phrase
to reduce or stop a flow
To stop or reduce something that is moving or increasing, often something bad.
Examples
- The government is trying to stem the flow of illegal drugs across the border.
- New safety measures aim to stem the flow of accidents in the factory.
- Extra staff were hired to stem the flow of angry calls.
stem the tide
1/stˈɛm ðə tˈaɪd/
idiom
to stop a growing problem
To stop or slow down a big and growing problem or movement.
Examples
- New laws were introduced to stem the tide of corruption.
- New policies are needed to stem the tide of gun violence.
- Volunteers are working hard to stem the tide of homelessness in the city.
- The company cut prices to stem the tide of customers leaving.
- The company hopes the changes will stem the tide of customer complaints.
- Doctors are working hard to stem the tide of new infections.