stemnoun [ C ]
uk/stem/us/stem/stem noun [ C ] (CENTRAL PART)
a central part of something from which other parts can develop or grow, or which forms a support
the stick-like central part of a plant that grows above the ground and from which leaves and flowers grow, or a smaller thin part that grows from the central part and supports the leaves and flowers:
the thin vertical part of a glass or similar container that joins the part that holds liquid to the flat bottom part on which it stands:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Physical supports and supporting
- backbone
- bearing
- bolster
- bookend
- buoy
- burden
- buttress
- cantilever
- groan
- pile
- pillar
- prop
- rafter
- runner
- scaffold
- scaffolding
- shore
- shore sth up
- stilt
- underpin
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
stem noun [ C ] (WORD)
the part of a word that is left after you take off the ending:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: morphology & parts of words
- -athon
- -ative
- -ee
- -ese
- combining form
- compound
- disyllabic
- est
- ill
- monosyllabic
- monosyllable
- particle
- polysyllabic
- portmanteau word
- prefix
- s
- syllable
- that'd
- that'll
- that's
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stem noun [ C ] (WATCH)
US UK winder the small part on the side of a watch that you turn to move the hands (= parts that point to the numbers), or to make the watch operate
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Watches & clocks
- 24-hour clock
- against the clock idiom
- alarm clock
- at/on the stroke of sth idiom
- bezel
- clock
- crystal
- hour hand
- hourglass
- lose
- minute hand
- movement
- pendulum
- radio alarm clock
- strike
- twenty-four-hour clock
- watchband
- watchstrap
- winder
- wristwatch
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stem noun [ C ] (SHIP)
the main supporting structure at the front of a ship
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Parts of ships & boats
- abaft
- boathook
- boiler room
- capstan
- echo sounder
- engine room
- gangplank
- gunnel
- helm
- jib
- lanyard
- lifebelt
- mast
- oar
- paddle
- porthole
- rib
- rudder
- sail
- tiller
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Idiom(s)
stemverb [ T ]
uk/stem/us/stem/-mm-to stop something unwanted from spreading or increasing:
to stop the flow of a liquid such as blood:
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Causing something to end
- abandon
- all good things (must) come to an end idiom
- and have done with it idiom
- be over the hump idiom
- bitter
- draw
- knock off (sth)
- lay
- lay sth to rest idiom
- lay the ghost of sth (to rest) idiom
- leave it at that idiom
- leave off (sth/doing sth)
- lift
- raise
- stone-dead
- suppression
- the curtain falls on sth idiom
- to the bitter end idiom
- top sth off
- walk
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