Need another word for Stem? Use these synonyms of Stem from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
trunk
branch
stalk
sprout
shoot
twig
bough
limb
stock
base
foundation
origin
source
root
progenitor
ancestor
parent
forebear
precursor
predecessor
ancestor
lineage
heritage
pedigree
roots
foundation
starting point
beginning
commencement
inception
genesis
Meaning of Stem
The primary meaning of the word "Stem" is a central part of a plant that provides support and connection for its various components, such as leaves, flowers, and branches.
Definitions
- The main structural part of a plant, typically growing from the root and supporting the leaves and flowers
- A narrow or elongated part of a plant, such as a twig or a branch
- The main part of a word to which prefixes and suffixes are added
- A person's original family or ancestry
- The starting point or origin of something
Etymology of Stem
The word "Stem" originates from Old English "stemn", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "stemiz", and is related to the Proto-Indo-European word "steh-", meaning "to stand"
The word has been used in the English language since the 9th century to describe the main part of a plant, and its usage has been extended to include other meanings, such as the main part of a word or a person's ancestry
Example Uses
- The stem of the flower was long and slender, supporting the heavy bloom
- The word "unhappy" has "happy" as its stem, with the prefix "un-" added to convey the opposite meaning
- The company's stem organization was founded in the early 20th century and has since grown into a global conglomerate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
offshoot
sideline
subsidiary
secondary
peripheral
outer
external
extraneous
unrelated
disconnected
severed
detached
removed
eliminated
absent
missing
lacking
deficient
incomplete