stern

Short definition from Wiktionary

Adjective

1. 1
   Having a hardness and severity of nature or manner.
2. 2
   Grim and forbidding in appearance.

Noun

1. 1
   The rear part (after end) of a ship or other vessel.
2. 2
   The post of management or direction.
3. 3
   The hinder part of anything.
4. 4
   The tail of an animal; now used only of the tail of a dog.
5. 5
   A bird, the black tern.

Verb

1. 1
   To steer, to direct the course of (a ship).
2. 2
   To propel or move backward or stern-first in the water.

Proper noun

1. 1
   A surname.