[stɛm], (Noun)

Definitions:
- the main body or stalk of a plant or shrub, typically rising above ground but occasionally subterranean

- a long, thin supportive or main section of something
(e.g: the main stem of the wing feathers)

- the root or main part of a word, to which inflections or formative elements are added

- the main upright timber or metal piece at the bow of a ship, to which the ship's sides are joined at the front end
(e.g: the spines and bow stems of abandoned hulks)

- a pipe used for smoking crack or opium


Phrases:
- from stem to stern

Origin:
Old English stemn, stefn, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stam and German Stamm. stem is related to Dutch steven, German Steven

[stɛm], (Verb)

Definitions:
- originate in or be caused by
(e.g: many of the universities' problems stem from rapid expansion)

- remove the stems from (fruit or tobacco leaves)
(e.g: her aunt and her mother were stemming currants on the side porch)

- (of a boat) make headway against (the tide or current)
(e.g: if the wind will only freshen a little, we shall be able to stem the first of the flood)


Phrases:
- from stem to stern

Origin:
Old English stemn, stefn, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stam and German Stamm. stem is related to Dutch steven, German Steven

[stɛm], (Verb)

Definitions:
- stop or restrict (the flow of something)
(e.g: a nurse did her best to stem the bleeding)

- slide the tail of one ski or both skis outwards in order to turn or slow down
(e.g: I side-slipped at first, grew tired of it, and stemmed for a while)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘to stop, delay’): from Old Norse stemma, of Germanic origin. The skiing term (early 20th century) is from the German verb stemmen

[], (Abbreviation)

Definitions:
- science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (as an educational category)
(e.g: the academy is seeking to appoint a Teaching and Learning Coordinator for STEM subjects)


Phrases:

Origin: