stem (redirected from stems)

from stem to stern 

1. Lit. from the front of a boat or ship to the back. He inspected the boat from stem to stern and decided he wanted to buy it.

2. Fig. from one end to another. Now, I have to clean the house from stem to stern. I polished my car carefully from stem to stern.

See also: stern

stem from something

[for an event] to result from something. These problems all stem from your mismanagement. Our difficulties stem from the bad weather we have been having.

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from stem to stern  (American)

from one end of something to the other We overhauled the car from stem to stern.

See also: stern

stem the tide

to stop something bad which is happening a lot (often + of ) We have to stem the tide of emigration if our economy is to recover. Ohio State were losing 24-48 when Jackson stepped in to stem the tide.

See also: tide

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(from) stem to stern

completely We overhauled the car from stem to stern.

Related vocabulary: from top to bottom

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of from the stem to the stern ( from the front end to the back end of a ship)

See also: stern

stem from something (slightly formal)

to result from something His fear of snakes stems from an incident in his childhood.

stem the tide

to stop something from increasing This law may stem the tide of pollution of our beautiful river from the factories built along its banks.

See also: tide