stem meaning and definition

STEM noun

Definition of stem (noun)

1. (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
   • "thematic vowels are part of the stem"
   • synonyms: base, radical, root, root word, theme
2. a slender or elongated structure that supports a plant or fungus or a plant part or plant organ
   • synonyms: stalk
3. cylinder forming a long narrow part of something
   • synonyms: shank
4. the tube of a tobacco pipe
5. front part of a vessel or aircraft
   • "he pointed the bow of the boat toward the finish line"
   • synonyms: bow, fore, prow
6. a turn made in skiing; the back of one ski is forced outward and the other ski is brought parallel to it
   • synonyms: stem turn

STEM verb

Definition of stem (verb)

1. grow out of, have roots in, originate in
   • "The increase in the national debt stems from the last war"
2. cause to point inward
   • "stem your skis"
3. stop the flow of a liquid
   • "staunch the blood flow"; "stem the tide"
   • synonyms: halt, stanch, staunch
4. remove the stem from
   • "for automatic natural language processing, the words must be stemmed"