Stem1  —n. 1 main body or stalk of a plant. 2 stalk of a fruit, flower, or leaf. 3 stem-shaped part, as: a the slender part of a wineglass. B the tube of a tobacco-pipe. C a vertical stroke in a letter or musical note. 4 gram. Root or main part of a noun, verb, etc., to which inflections are added. 5 main upright timber at the bow of a ship (from stem to stern). —v. (-mm-) (foll. By from) spring or originate from. [old english]