Firm vs. Stern — What's the Difference?

Having a solid, almost unyielding surface or structure

The stern is the back or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite the bow, the foremost part of a ship.

Strongly felt and unlikely to change

Hard, harsh, or severe in manner or character

Make more solid or resilient

Showing or expressing displeasure or disapproval; forbidding or harsh

In a resolute and determined manner

Firm or unyielding; uncompromising

A business concern, especially one involving a partnership of two or more people

Difficult to endure; oppressive

Resistant to externally applied pressure.

(Nautical) The rear part of a ship or boat.

Marked by or indicating the tone and resiliency of healthy tissue

A rear part or section.

Securely fixed in place

Having a hardness and severity of nature or manner.

Indicating or possessed of determination or resolution

Grim and forbidding in appearance.

Constant; steadfast

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

Not subject to change; fixed and definite

(figurative) The post of management or direction.

Unfluctuating; steady

The hinder part of anything.

Strong and sure

The tail of an animal; now used only of the tail of a dog.

To make or become firm. Often used with up.

A bird, the black tern.

Without wavering; resolutely

To steer, to direct the course of (a ship).

A business enterprise.

To propel or move backward or stern-first in the water.

An unincorporated business, particularly a partnership.

The black tern.

The name or designation under which a company transacts business.

The helm or tiller of a vessel or boat; also, the rudder.

A business partnership; the name under which it trades.

The after or rear end of a ship or other vessel, or of a boat; the part opposite to the stem, or prow.

A business enterprise, however organized.

Fig.: The post of management or direction.

(slang) A criminal gang, especially based around football hooliganism.

The hinder part of anything.

Steadfast, secure, solid (in position)

The tail of an animal; - now used only of the tail of a dog.

Fixed (in opinion).

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.

Insistent upon something, not accepting dissent.

Being in the stern, or being astern; as, the stern davits.

Durable, rigid (material state)

The rear part of a ship

Firmly, steadily

United States concert violinist (born in Russia in 1920)

(transitive) To make firm or strong; fix securely.

The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on;

(transitive) To make compact or resistant to pressure; solidify.

Of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect;

(intransitive) To become firm; stabilise.

Not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty;

(intransitive) To improve after decline.

Severe and unremitting in making demands;

To shorten (of betting odds).

To select (a higher education institution) as one's preferred choice, so as to enrol automatically if one's grades match the conditional offer.

Fixed; hence, closely compressed; compact; substantial; hard; solid; - applied to the matter of bodies; as, firm flesh; firm muscles, firm wood.

Not easily excited or disturbed; unchanging in purpose; fixed; steady; constant; stable; unshaken; not easily changed in feelings or will; strong; as, a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent.

Solid; - opposed to fluid; as, firm land.

Indicating firmness; as, a firm tread; a firm countenance.

The name, title, or style, under which a company transacts business; a partnership of two or more persons; a commercial house; as, the firm of Hope & Co.

To fix; to settle; to confirm; to establish.

To fix or direct with firmness.

Members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments;

Become taut or tauter;

Make taut or tauter;

Marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable;

Not soft or yielding to pressure;

Strong and sure;

Not subject to revision or change;

(of especially a person's physical features) not shaking or trembling;

Not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall;

Securely established;

Marked by the tone and resiliency of healthy tissue;

Pleasingly firm and fresh and making a crunching noise when chewed;

Securely fixed in place;

Unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause;

With resolute determination;