woody structure bearing foliage and buds that give rise to other stems (branches).
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
stem (noun)1.
a) the main trunk of a plant , specifically a primary plant axis that develops buds and shoots instead of roots
b) a plant part (as a branch, petiole, or stipe) that supports another (as a leaf or fruit)
c) the complete fruiting stalk of a banana plant with its bananas
2.
a) the main upright member at the bow of a ship
b) the bow or prow of a ship - compare stern
3.
a line of ancestry - stock , especially a fundamental line from which others have arisen
4.
the part of an inflected word that remains after the inflected part is removed - strength is the stem of strengths , also - root
5.
something held to resemble a plant stem as
a) a main or heavy stroke of a letter
b) the short perpendicular line extending from the head of a musical note
c) the part of a tobacco pipe from the bowl outward
d) the cylindrical support of a piece of (as a goblet) - stemware
e) a shaft of a watch used for winding
transitive verb
1.
to make headway against (as an adverse tide, current, or wind)
2.
to check or go counter to (something adverse)
transitive verb
1.
to remove the stem from
2.
intransitive verb
to make for (as artificial flowers) - stems to occur or develop as a consequence have or trace an origin - her success stems from hard work spring
transitive verb
1.
a) to stop or dam up (as a river)
b) to stop or check by or as if by damming , especially - stanch stem a flow of blood
2.
intransitive verb
to turn (a ski) in - stemming
1.
to restrain or check oneself , also to become checked or stanched
2.
to slide the heel of one ski or of both skis outward usually in making or preparing to make a turn
1.
- check dam
2.
an act or instance of on skis - stemming