stem
gb/stˈɛm/ us/stˈɛm/
A2
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
main stalk of a plant
The main long part of a plant or flower that holds the leaves or flower head.
Usage pattern:
the stem of [a plant/flower]
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.
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.)
Collocations
plant stem
|flower stem
|tree stem
|thick stem
|long stem
|woody stem
Themes
nature
|biology
|daily life
Examples
- Cut the rose at an angle on the stem to keep it fresh longer.
- The stem of the plant was too weak to hold the heavy flower.
- 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.
- The stem of this plant is very thick.
- 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.
Noun
B1
entity
2
long thin supporting part
The long, narrow part of an object, like a glass or pipe, that supports it or that you hold.
Usage pattern:
the stem of [an object]
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.
Synonyms
shaft (Similar idea of a long, narrow part, but used more for tools, weapons, or mechanical parts than for glasses and pipes.)
Collocations
wine-glass stem
|glass stem
|pipe stem
|broken stem
|short stem
|long stem
Themes
objects
|daily life
|design
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She held the wine glass by the stem to avoid warming the drink.
- The stem of his old pipe had a small crack.
- 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.
- The stem of my pipe is broken.
- 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.
Verb
B2
action
3
to come or develop from
To start or come from a cause, place, or situation.
Usage pattern:
[something] stems from [a cause/source]
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.
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".)
Collocations
problems stem from
|issue stems from
|idea stems from
|conflict stems from
|differences stem from
Themes
thinking
|causality
|discussion
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many of their arguments stem from poor communication.
- Her interest in medicine stems from her mother being a doctor.
- 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.
- The problem stems from a small mistake in the plan.
- 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.
Verb
B2
action
4
to stop or limit something
To stop or reduce the flow of something, or to stop something bad from growing.
Usage pattern:
to stem [the flow/bleeding/rise of something]
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").
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.)
Collocations
stem the flow
|stem the bleeding
|stem the tide
|stem the spread
|efforts to stem
Themes
problems
|medicine
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Doctors worked quickly to stem the bleeding from his wound.
- New policies were introduced to stem the flow of illegal weapons.
- 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.
- The nurse tried to stem the bleeding.
- 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.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
5
base part of a word
The main part of a word that does not change, to which you can add beginnings or endings.
Usage pattern:
the stem of [a word]
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.
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.)
Collocations
verb stem
|noun stem
|word stem
|common stem
|derive from the stem
Themes
language
|linguistics
|education
|communication
Examples
- In the word "unhappiness", the stem is "happy".
- Learners first identify the stem and then add the correct ending.
- 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".
- We add endings to the stem to make new forms.
- 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.
Verb
B2
action
6
to remove stems from food
To take off the long, thin part (the stem) from fruit, vegetables, or leaves.
Usage pattern:
to stem [fruit/vegetables/leaves]
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.
Synonyms
destem (A more technical or specialized form, especially used in wine-making and food processing.)
Collocations
stem the cherries
|washed and stemmed
|stem and seed
|sorted and stemmed
|picked and stemmed
Themes
food
|cooking
|daily life
|food_drink
Examples
- Wash and stem the strawberries before adding them to the salad.
- The recipe tells you to stem and chop the kale.
- 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.
- She stemmed the cherries for the pie.
- 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.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
7
main family or ethnic line
A main family line or people that something or someone comes from.
Usage pattern:
a [national/ethnic] 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.
Synonyms
lineage (Very similar, but used more widely in modern English; "stem" in this sense sounds more formal or old-fashioned.)
Collocations
Germanic stem
|Celtic stem
|Slavic stem
|of foreign stem
|of noble stem
Themes
history
|society
|identity
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The language has its roots in a Germanic stem.
- Several families of Italian stem settled in the region during the nineteenth century.
- 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.
- Many people of Italian stem live in this city.
- This word is from a Latin stem.
- The custom has a Celtic stem.
- Some family names show a Slavic stem.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
8
forward vertical part of a ship
The main strong piece of wood or metal at the front of a ship’s body.
Usage pattern:
the stem of [a ship]
Antonyms
stern (Refers to the back end of a ship, opposite to the stem at the front.)
Collocations
ship's stem
|bow and stem
|stem and stern
|rake of the stem
|stem post
Themes
transport
|engineering
|transportation
Examples
- The waves broke against the sharp stem of the ship.
- Damage to the stem required the vessel to be taken out of service.
- 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.
- Workers painted the stem and the rest of the hull.
- 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.
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.