[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/stern/)

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# stern

adjective (stern, sterner, sternest); noun (the stern, sterns)

«stern» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Stern means serious and strict, not smiling, like a teacher who wants you to behave. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#m1)
2. The stern is the back part of a ship or boat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#m2)
3. Stern can also describe a hard, serious test or warning: a stern warning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories a stern face or voice tells the reader that someone is strict or angry and expects obedience. On boats children learn stern (back) and bow (front). Phrases: a stern look, a stern warning, from stem to stern (from front to back, all of it).

### Examples

- The headteacher gave us a stern look. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#x1)
- Grandpa's voice was stern: «Go to bed now.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#x2)
- We got a stern warning about running in the corridor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#x3)
- We sat at the stern of the boat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#x4)
- The captain stood at the stern and steered. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#x5)
- She is stern but fair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#x6)
- The ship was cleaned from stem to stern. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#x7)
- Now, Minos was a stern and pitiless king. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/#x8)

### Note

Adverb: sternly. The front of a boat is the bow; the back is the stern; left is port; right is starboard. «Stern» (strict) and «stern» (back of a boat) are spelled the same but are different words.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «stern» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stern/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«stern» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/stern.html) on Mova free.