The term 'STEMS, SO TO SPEAK' is a crossword solution that consists of two words. The first word is 'LEGS', which is a four-letter word. This word refers TO the long, thin parts of a plant that support the leaves and flowers. The second word is 'SO TO SPEAK', which is an idiom that means 'in a manner of speaking'. Together, these two words form a phrase that suggests something is figuratively supported by something else.