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: the 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}]
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}]