stem (
http://definr.com/stem)
n 1: (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are
removed; "thematic vowels are part of the stem" [syn:
root,
root word,
base,
theme,
radical]
2: a slender or elongated structure that supports a plant or
fungus or a plant part or plant organ [syn:
stalk]
3: cylinder forming a long narrow part of something [syn:
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" [syn:
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 [syn: {stem
turn}]
v 1: grow out of, have roots in, originate in; "The increase in
the national debt stems from the last war"
2: as of the flow of a liquid flowing, such as blood from a
wound [syn:
stanch,
staunch,
halt]