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DictionarystemHolding back
verb

stem

To stop or slow a flow or spread.

The barrier stems the flow of muddy water.

Etymology
stemOld Norseto dam; stop up

The Old Norse verb means to dam or stop up. Stemming a flow preserves that blocking action, extended to slowing the spread of other things.

More examples

  • They stemmed the spread of the rumor.
  • The measures are stemming further losses.
  • The leak had been stemmed.

Forms

stem · stems · stemmed · stemming

Similar words

halt
Means stop completely rather than merely slow.
curb
Restrains growth or activity without necessarily stopping it.