Stem

1. the ascending axis of a plant, whether above or below ground, which ordinarily grows in an opposite direction to the root or descending axis. 2. the stalk that supports a leaf, flower, or fruit. 3. the main body of that portion of a tree, shrub, or other plant which is above ground; trunk; stalk. 4. a cut flower: We bought roses at the flower market for 50¢ a stem. 5. a petiole; peduncle; pedicel. 6. a stalk of bananas. 7. something resembling or suggesting a leaf or flower stalk. 8. a long, slender part: the stem of a tobacco pipe. 9. the slender, vertical part of a goblet, wineglass, etc., between the bowl and the base. 10. Informal. a drinking glass having a stem. 11. the handle of a spoon. 12. a projection from the rim of a watch, having on its end a knob for winding the watch. 13. the circular rod in some locks about which the key fits and rotates. 14. the rod or spindle by which a valve is operated from outside. 15. the stock or line of descent of a family; ancestry or pedigree. 16. Grammar. the underlying form, often consisting of a root plus an affix, to which the inflectional endings of a word are added, as tend-, the stem in Latin tendere “to stretch,” the root of which is ten-. Compare base1 (def 18), theme (def 5). 17. Music. the vertical line forming part of a note. 18. stems, Slang. the legs of a human being. 19. the main or relatively thick stroke of a letter in printing.