Definitions for sternstɜrn

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

stern^*stɜrn(adj.)-er, -est.

firm, strict, or uncompromising:
stern discipline.
hard, harsh, or severe.
rigorous or austere; of an unpleasantly serious character:
stern times.
grim or forbidding in aspect:
a stern face.

^* Syn: stern , severe , harsh mean strict or firm and can be applied to methods, aspects, manners, or facial expressions. stern implies uncompromising, inflexible firmness, and sometimes a forbidding aspect or nature: a stern parent.severe implies strictness and a tendency to discipline others: a severe judge.harsh suggests a great severity and roughness, and cruel, unfeeling treatment of others: a harsh critic.

Origin of stern:

bef. 1000; ME; OE *stierne (in stiernlīce adv.); cf. West Saxon styrne

stern′ness(n.)

sternstɜrn(n.)

the after part of a vessel
Category: Nautical, Navy
Ref: (often opposed to stem 4 ).
the back or rear of anything.

Origin of stern:

1250–1300; ME sterne, prob. < ON stjōrn steering (done aft)

Sternstɜrn(n.)

Isaac, born 1920, U.S. violinist, born in Russia.
Category: Biography

Princeton's WordNet

stern, after part, quarter, poop, tail(noun)
the rear part of a ship
Stern, Isaac Stern(noun)
United States concert violinist (born in Russia in 1920)
buttocks, nates, arse, butt, backside, bum, buns, can, fundament, hindquarters, hind end, keister, posterior, prat, rear, rear end, rump, stern, seat, tail, tail end, tooshie, tush, bottom, behind, derriere, fanny, ass(adj)
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
"he deserves a good kick in the butt"; "are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?"
austere, stern(adj)
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
"an austere expression"; "a stern face"
grim, inexorable, relentless, stern, unappeasable, unforgiving, unrelenting(adj)
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
"grim determination"; "grim necessity"; "Russia's final hour, it seemed, approached with inexorable certainty"; "relentless persecution"; "the stern demands of parenthood"
stern, strict, exacting(adj)
severe and unremitting in making demands
"an exacting instructor"; "a stern disciplinarian"; "strict standards"
austere, severe, stark, stern(adj)
severely simple
"a stark interior"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

stern(adjective)ɜrn
strict or serious
a stern teacher; a stern expression

Wiktionary

stern(Noun)
The rear part or after end of a ship or vessel.

Origin: From stern, sterne, sturne, from styrne, from sturnijaz, from ster-. Cognate with stern, stornen, stuurs, stursk.

Webster Dictionary

Stern(noun)
the black tern
Stern(u)
having a certain hardness or severity of nature, manner, or aspect; hard; severe; rigid; rigorous; austere; fixed; unchanging; unrelenting; hence, serious; resolute; harsh; as, a sternresolve; a stern necessity; a stern heart; a stern gaze; a stern decree
Stern(verb)
the helm or tiller of a vessel or boat; also, the rudder
Stern(verb)
the after or rear end of a ship or other vessel, or of a boat; the part opposite to the stem, or prow
Stern(verb)
fig.: The post of management or direction
Stern(verb)
the hinder part of anything
Stern(verb)
the tail of an animal; -- now used only of the tail of a dog
Stern(adj)
being in the stern, or being astern; as, the stern davits