originate in or be caused by

many of the universities' problems stem from rapid expansion

remove the stems from (fruit or tobacco leaves)

her aunt and her mother were stemming currants on the side porch

(of a boat) make headway against (the tide or current)

if the wind will only freshen a little, we shall be able to stem the first of the flood

the main body or stalk of a plant or shrub, typically rising above ground but occasionally subterranean

a long, thin supportive or main section of something

the main stem of the wing feathers

the root or main part of a word, to which inflections or formative elements are added

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

the spines and bow stems of abandoned hulks

a pipe used for smoking crack or opium

stop or restrict (the flow of something)

a nurse did her best to stem the bleeding

slide the tail of one ski or both skis outwards in order to turn or slow down

I side-slipped at first, grew tired of it, and stemmed for a while