stem¹ ◙ noun 1. the main body or stalk of a plant or shrub, typically rising above ground but occasionally subterranean • （植物、灌木的）茎，干 the stalk supporting a fruit, flower, or leaf, and attaching it to a larger branch, twig, or stalk • （支撑果实、花朵、叶子的）梗 2. a long, thin supportive or main section of something • 把，柄；干 »the main stem of the wing feathers. 翅膀羽毛的主干。 the slender part of a wine glass between the base and the bowl • （酒杯杯身与底座之间的）柄脚 the tube of a tobacco pipe • 烟斗柄 a rod or cylinder in a mechanism, for example the sliding shaft of a bolt or the winding pin of a watch • （机械装置的）阀杆，导杆，棒 a vertical stroke in a letter or musical note • （文字的）干线；（音符的）符干 3. [Grammar] the root or main part of a noun, adjective, or other word, to which inflections or formative elements are added • [语法] 词干 (archaic or poetic/literary)the main line of descent of a family or nation • [古或诗／文] 家谱，系谱；血统 »the Hellenic tribes were derived from the Aryan stem. 那些希腊部落起源于雅利安血统。 4. the main upright timber or metal piece at the bow of a ship, to which the ship's sides are joined at the front end • 船头，艏；艏材，艏柱 5. [US informal] a pipe used for smoking crack or opium • [美，非正式] 鸦片烟枪 ◙ (stemmed, stemming) 1. [no obj.] (stem from)originate in or be caused by • 起源于 »many of the universities' problems stem from rapid expansion. 大学的许多问题来源于快速扩张。 2. [with obj.] remove the stems from (fruit or tobacco leaves) • 去掉（水果、烟叶的）干（或茎、梗） 3. [with obj.] (of a boat) make headway against (the tide or current) • （船）逆流而行
【IDIOMS】
◘ from stem to stern 1. from the front to the back, especially of a ship • 从头到尾；从船头到船尾 »surges of water rocked their boats from stem to stern. 汹涌的潮水使船从头到尾摇晃起来。
【派生】
♦ stemless adjective ♦ stem-like adjective
【语源】
1. Old English stemn, stefn, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stam and German Stamm. Sense 4 is related to Dutch steven, German Stevenstem² ◙ (stemmed, stemming) 1. [with obj.] stop or restrict (the flow of something) • 堵住，塞住；制止（流动） »a nurse did her best to stem the bleeding. 那护士竭尽全力来止血。 »an attempt to stem the rising tide of unemployment. 遏制失业上升的努力。 2. [no obj.] [Skiing] slide the tail of one ski or both skis outwards in order to turn or slow down • [滑雪] 向外转动（滑雪屐）以便转弯（或减速）
【语源】
1. Middle English (in the sense 'to stop, delay'): from Old Norse stemma, of Germanic origin. The skiing term (early 20th cent.) is from the German verb stemmen